Amount of artist grants

Monthly artist grants

State artist grants are paid monthly. As of 1 March 2012 the amount of each artist grant is 1,626.99 euros per month, having previously been 1,587.49 euros per month as of 1 February 2011. The Ministry of Education and Culture confirms the amount of state artist grants annually.

Annual artist grants

In 2012 the total amount of each annual artist grant is 19,444.88 euros, having previously been 19,029.51 euros in 2011.

Insurance obligation

Recipients of grants are personally responsible for taking our pension and accident insurance. These insurance policies must be applied for within three months of the start of the grant period. Applications should be submitted to the Farmers' Social Insurance Institution Mela. Further information: www.mela.fi

Pension insurance

The insurance covers all recipients who live in Finland and who have been awarded a grant for at least four months of artistic work within Finland. In addition, some artistic work that is carried out abroad is covered by the insurance. Persons who are over the age of 68 or receive an old age pension cannot take out pension insurance. The pension insurance of grant recipients has been carried out since 2009 in accordance with the Farmers' Pension Act. At the same time the amount of the artist grants was increased correspondingly. Five-year state artist grants that began before 2009 accrue pensions on the basis of the Act on State Artists' Grants, as a result of which they are smaller: 1,438.89 euros per month as of 1 March 2012.

Tax-free status of grants and awards

State artist grants are tax free. However, they do have an effect on the taxation of grants received from foundations, municipalities and other parties. The tax authorities add up all the grants received by an artist and usually collect income tax on the part that exceeds the annual amount of the state artist grant. Expenses related to project grants can be deducted from the amount of the grant. All grants and awards received from the Central Arts Council, as well as from national and regional arts

councils, are nevertheless tax free, even if their combined total is larger than the annual amount of the state artist grant.