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.

Instruments for loan 2023

For a loan period of five years:

Violins

  • Antonio Stradivari "ex Berglund", Cremona 1699
  • Hieronymus II Amati, Cremona 1678
  • Eero Haahti, Helsinki 1990
  • Jaakko Mäkelä, Helsinki 2000
  • Patrick Robin II, Angers 1992
  • Anon. "Antonio Stradivari 1727"
  • Anon. "ex Sulo Aro"
  • Anon. "S.S. Utinensis 1741"

Viola

  • Franco Simeoni, Treviso 1989

Cellos

  • Jean-Baptiste Salomon “ex Yagling”, Paris n. 1750
  • Charles Jacquot, Paris 1856 (Primarily intended for musicians from Varsinais-Suomi region.)

For a loan period of three years:

Violin (baroque)

  • Anon. "Andrea Guarneri 1691"

Cello (baroque)

  • Thomas Edlinger, Prague 1718
More information about instrumental loans:
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Päivi
Loponen-Kyrönseppä
Senior Advisor, Director of Mirjam Helin Competition