Teosto Cultural Foundation Awards Grants for Promoting Creation of Music
The first grants from the Teosto Cultural Foundation have been awarded. A total of 68 music authors or projects received support.
The Foundation received 1,601 applications, which were reviewed by expert committees based on peer evaluation. Applications were assessed by the Music Creators’ Fund and the Sibelius Fund for Finnish Composers in their respective committees, while Music Finland’s expert panel evaluated applications related to music export projects. The final decisions were made by the Board of the Teosto Cultural Foundation in its meeting on December 19, 2024.
Each grant awarded amounts to €6,000 per recipient. All applicants have been notified of the results via personal email.
Support for creating new music and long-term career development
In this first round, grants were broadly allocated to projects and investments that promote the creation of new music, career development, and increased visibility of music both in Finland and internationally. The pilot round provided valuable insights into the needs and opportunities within the music sector.
The grants are specifically targeted at music authors who work professionally with long-term goals. The recipients represent the diversity of the field, ranging from art music projects to pop music exports. Diversity was also broadly taken into account during the application review process.
“Grants were awarded to applicants whose proposals demonstrated a strategic and well-structured plan to elevate their work to a new level. The recipients were deemed to have significant potential to create innovative content, expand their audience base or for music export. Also companies were awarded project grants for music export initiatives,” said Teijamari Jyrkkiö, Secretary General of the Foundation, describing the evaluation criteria.
Aiming for significantly enhance the value of Finnish music
Founded in 2024, the Teosto Cultural Foundation has a mission to promote the creation of musical works and support the ecosystem around it. In line with its strategy, the Foundation seeks to elevate professional creators to new heights while strengthening diversity and enabling them to reach their audiences both in Finland and worldwide. The Foundation’s ultimate goal is to significantly enhance the value of Finnish music—both economically and artistically.
Insights gained from the first application round will be used in the planning of the Foundation’s future grant processes and structure. During 2025, the Foundation will design its support activities and establish the necessary channels and structures to carry them out. Details of future grant rounds will be announced at a later stage.
“The large number of applications demonstrates how crucial and sought-after this support is for the Finnish music industry. We remain committed to supporting projects that bring substantial added value to Finnish music, boost its international visibility, and elevate it to new levels,” said Anna Baijars, Chair of the Foundation’s Board.
Additional Information: Email: tuet@teostonkulttuurisaatio.fi
For inquiries about the Foundation’s activities: Teijamari Jyrkkiö, Secretary General Tel: +358 40 557 6990 Email: teijamari.jyrkkio@teostonkulttuurisaatio.fi
