Kainuu – Finnish Cultural Foundation

Kainuu

The Kainuu Regional Fund was founded in 1954, when it formed part of the North Finland Regional Fund, together with the Lapland Regional Fund and the North Ostrobothnia Regional Fund. It became a separate fund in 1968 and is one of the Finnish Cultural Foundation’s 17 regional funds today.

What is the Kainuu Regional Fund?

The Kainuu Regional Fund comprises a General Fund and donation- and bequest-based donor funds. Grants made from the latter are directed towards areas specified by the donor when making his or her bequest. Areas not covered by this procedure are supported from the general funds.

The Fund’s activities and decision-making are impartial and not linked to political parties or other organisations or associations. Grants made by the Fund are decided by an Administrative Council comprising 9 members representing a wide range of expertise and knowledge in the arts, the sciences, society, and business in the region.

Kainuu Grants

The Fund is devoted to promoting and developing the arts, the sciences, and other fields of endeavour in the region – by providing annual grants and awards. The grants of the regional fund January application round are divided into working and expenditure grants. In addition to these, grants will be awarded for special purposes.

What kinds of grants do we award and to whom?

Priority will be given to scientific or artistic work created, carried out or directed towards the region, as well as cultural and development projects of regional significance. The Kainuu Fund encourages applications for projects that contribute to the vitality of the region.

Grants are distributed from both the general fund and donor funds.

All the donor fund of the Kainuu Fund (in Finnish)

Kainuu

January Round and special purpose grants

Special purpose grants in the January round of applications are Vitality and Culture, Local culture grants and Spearhead grants.

January Round and special purpose grants

Special purpose grants in the January round of applications are Vitality and Culture, Local culture grants and Spearhead grants.

The municipalities in the Kainuu Fund's region

Hyrynsalmi, Kajaani, Kuhmo, Paltamo, Puolanka, Ristijärvi, Sotkamo and Suomussalmi.

The municipalities in the Kainuu Fund's region

Hyrynsalmi, Kajaani, Kuhmo, Paltamo, Puolanka, Ristijärvi, Sotkamo and Suomussalmi.

The administrative committee

Members of the Kainuu Fund’s Administrative Committee in autumn 2025. Photo: Minna Hyvönen

Chair

Joni Kinnunen, Master of Culture and Arts

Vice Chair

Kirsi Määttä, Dr. of Medicine

Sanna Diukman, Artist
Ramona Grönstrand, Project Manager
Tapani Komulainen, Supervisor of degree Studies
Anni Mikkelsson, Theatre Director
Mari Möttönen, CEO
Anu Varis, CEO
Mika Virkkala, Regional Director