There are 13 Regional Arts Councils in different parts of Finland and they are made up of nearly 150 members elected to a position of trust and to act as experts in a specific field of art and regional culture. The Ministry of Education appoints the Councils after having consulted regional art and culture organisations and institutions.
The Regional Arts Councils employ Regional Artists to work as special experts with a view to promoting art and art related activities in the region.
Each Regional Arts Council - follows and evaluates general developments in the arts in its region - promotes participation in the arts, the dissemination of information to this end, and international activities - promotes cooperation between cultural partners in their regions - issues statements in matters relating to the arts - hires regional artists.
The Regional Arts Councils allocate independently the art promotion funds appropriated by the Ministry of Education in the form of artist grants, which are allocated for one, three or five years, as well as state subsidies to art organisations.
The Regional Arts Councils have net sites, some of which are also in English:
