The purpose of the Finnish Cultural Foundation's instrument collection is to acquire instruments for the Foundation to own and lend to musicians. Currently, the collection consists of fifty-six string instruments and a harpsichord. In addition to instruments by old Italian and French masters, quality instruments for advanced students are also available.

Applications close at 4 pm Finnish time on the last day of the application period.

Loan periods

As a rule, the loan period is ca. five years, and consecutive loans of the same instrument are not permitted. However, the most valuable instruments in the collection can be granted to the same person for another or even for a third loan period. Some instruments have specific requirements concerning their regional usage.

Who May Apply

The instruments are lent primarily to persons permanently residing in Finland. A Finnish applicant's studies abroad make an exception to this rule.

Grant Decisions

An instrument loan can be applied for during the March Round of Applications. Applications should be submitted using the Finnish Cultural Foundation’s Online Application Service. Applications close at 4 pm Finnish time on the last day of the application period.

A committee of experts of the instrument collection makes the proposals to the Finnish Cultural Foundation board of trustees. The decisions will be released at the latest by the end of May.

To the Online Application System

Instruments for loan 2024

For a loan period of five years:

Violins

  • Giuseppe Gagliano, Napoli 1760
  • Niccolo Gagliano, Napoli 1735
  • Eero Haahti,  Helsinki 1990 
  • Anon. ”Antonio Stradivari 1727”, French, mid 1800's
  • Anon. "Domenicus Montagnana 1735"
  • Anon. "Guarneri del Gesù 1728"
  • Anon. "ex Sulo Aro", partly Milan, 1800

Viola

  • Jean-Babtiste Vuillaume, Paris 1870
  • Eero Haahti, Helsinki 2009, no. 129/15

Cellos

  • David Tecchler, Rome 1707
  • Luigi Bajoni, Milan ca. 1850

For a loan period of three years:

Viola da Gamba Quintet

  • Dietrich Kessler / Henner Harders 1999-2001
More information about instrumental loans:
Tummahiuksinen nainen harmaassa neuleessa helmet kaulassa. Taustalla vihreä metsä.
Päivi
Loponen-Kyrönseppä
Competition Director, Senior Advisor