South Karelia – Finnish Cultural Foundation

South Karelia

The South Karelia Regional Fund was founded in 1962. As one of the Finnish Cultural Foundation’s 17 regional funds, it is devoted to promoting and developing the arts, the sciences, and other fields of endeavour in South Karelia – by providing grants and awards, and organising other activities in the 9 municipalities in the region.

What is the South Karelia Regional Fund?

The South Karelia Regional Fund provides grants and awards to local people active in the arts, the sciences, and other fields of endeavour and to scientific or artistic work carried out in or covering one or more of the region’s municipalities.

The South Karelia 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 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.

South Karelia 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.

What kinds of grants do we award and to whom?

Grants from the South Karelia Fund are available in all fields of science and art. We particularly welcome applications for cross-regional cooperation projects that promote cultural, economic and community development in eastern Finland.

In addition to the general fund, grants are awarded from the following donor funds, among others:

Helmi and Kaarlo Larjosalo Fund, which promotes medical research in South Karelia, primarily research related to age-related macular degeneration or its treatment in the aging population, as well as other research related to aging.
Aune and Urho Uimonen Fund, which supports young people in their studies and acquisition of professional skills, particularly in technology, manual skills, home economics and other practical life skills.
Helvi Virén Fund, which supports projects related to good environmental management

All the donor fund of the South Karelia Regional Fund (in Finnish)

South Karelia

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 South Karelia Fund's region

Imatra, Lappeenranta, Lemi, Luumäki, Parikkala, Rautjärvi, Ruokolahti, Savitaipale and Taipalsaari

The municipalities in the South Karelia Fund's region

Imatra, Lappeenranta, Lemi, Luumäki, Parikkala, Rautjärvi, Ruokolahti, Savitaipale and Taipalsaari

Kartta Etelä-Karjalan maakunnasta, johon nimetty alueen kaupungit

The administrative committee

The South Karelia Fund’s Administrative Committee represents a wide range of expertise and knowledge in the arts, the sciences, society, and business in the region. Photo: Jani Kautto

Chair

Karl-Erik Michelsen, Professor

Vice Chair

Mona Taipale, RDI Specialist, M.A., M.B.A.

Ari Jantunen, Professor
Marko Jylli, Marketing and Communications Manager
Pasi Luukka, Professor
Arttu Muukkonen, CEO
Sanna Ojanne, Master of Philosophy
Timo Rissanen, Theater Director
Johanna Ruohonen, Development Director
Markus Sarantola, D.M.A.