Lapland – Suomen Kulttuurirahasto

The Fund is devoted to promoting and developing the arts, the sciences, and other fields of endeavour in Lapland – by providing annual grants and awards. The region covered by the Fund included 21 municipalities.

The Lapland Regional Fund comprises a General Fund and donor funds based on private and public donations and bequests. Grants made from the latter are directed towards areas specified by the donor at the time of their 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 a nine-member Administrative Council that reflects a wide range of expertise and knowledge in the arts, the sciences, society, and business in the region.

Lapland Grants

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.

In addition to Sámi culture, the Lapland Regional Fund considers it important to support research in the social and behavioural sciences, the arts and the Arctic region. The fund also awards multi-year grants.

Donor Funds

The grants are awarded from a general fund and those donor funds open for application in the next round:

Mikko and Sirkka Jokela Fund
Suoma and Veijo Kärki Fund
Lappi Research Fund
Ragnar Lassinantti Fund
Längman Entrepreneur Fund I
Martti Miettunen Fund
Aino Yliruokanen Science Fund

The municipalities in the Lapland Fund's region

Enontekiö, Inari, Kemi, Kemijärvi, Keminmaa, Kittilä, Kolari, Muonio, Pelkosenniemi, Pello, Posio, Ranua, Rovaniemi, Salla, Savukoski, Simo, Sodankylä, Tervola, Tornio, Utsjoki and Ylitornio.

The municipalities in the Lapland Fund's region

Enontekiö, Inari, Kemi, Kemijärvi, Keminmaa, Kittilä, Kolari, Muonio, Pelkosenniemi, Pello, Posio, Ranua, Rovaniemi, Salla, Savukoski, Simo, Sodankylä, Tervola, Tornio, Utsjoki and Ylitornio.

The administrative committee

Members of the Lapland Fund’s Administrative Committee in autumn 2025. Photo: Valokuvaamo Kipinä

Chair

Anne Onnela, Rector

Vice Chair

Ilari Hovila, Doctor of Laws

Antti Eteläaho, Advisor
Jari Jokela, County chief executive (CEO)
Janne Näkkäläjärvi, Development manager
Dina Solatie, City Mayor
Johanna Syväjärvi, MD, specialist degree in ophtalmology, MEd
Annakaisa Tavast, Communications Director
Leena Valkeapää, Doctor of Arts