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Johanna Ruohonen appointed Development Director

Johanna Ruohonen, PhD, has been appointed Development Director of the Finnish Cultural Foundation from 1 April 2025. The Development Director is a member of the foundation’s management group.

In her new role, Ruohonen will be responsible for the development of the Finnish Cultural Foundation, with a focus on international issues. She will also be responsible for the foundation’s Science & Art (Tiede & Taide) activities as well as events aimed at strengthening the national visibility of science, research and art. Ruohonen will also continue to manage the foundation’s residency programme for artists.

“Foundations play an important role as advocates for science, research and the arts. We want to play our part in building a multi-voiced societal debate in Finland and internationally. Johanna Ruohonen’s solid experience is a good starting point for advancing our goals,” says Susanna Pettersson, CEO of the Finnish Cultural Foundation.

“In this day and age, it is extremely important to highlight the importance of art, research and science. Social polarisation, alternative truths, funding cuts and the decline of public debate are eroding the foundations of science and art, and this trend needs to be countered,” says Johanna Ruohonen.

“In this day and age, it is extremely important to highlight the importance of art, research and science”, says Ruohonen.

Ruohonen joined the Finnish Cultural Foundation in 2015. She currently works as a Museum Director at the Kirpilä Art Collection and as a Senior Advisor for grants and projects. Over the past ten years, Ruohonen has renewed the Kirpilä Art Collection by introducing contemporary art exhibitions and queer-themed guided tours, among other things. The number of visitors to the Kirpilä Art Collection has tripled during her tenure. Ruohonen has also been responsible for developing the foundation’s international residency programme and many projects, including Museovisio, Selkopolku, Taide2 and a support programme for Finnish Romani language and culture.

“The Finnish Cultural Foundation provides a wide range of support for artists, researchers and scientists throughout the country, and also internationally through various mobility programmes, among other things. Art and science are highly international fields of activity, which is why our aim is to increase cross-border cooperation models,” says Ruohonen.

The Finnish Cultural Foundation will start recruiting a new Museum Director for the Kirpilä Art Collection at the beginning of March 2025. 

Anna Kulju and Tommi Tähtinen to join the Finnish Cultural Foundation

Tummahiuksinen nainen mustassa puvussa

Anna Kulju

Anna Kulju, LL.M, MSc, will take up her post as Director of Legal Affairs at the Finnish Cultural Foundation on 1 September. She comes to the foundation from Hypo, where she has worked as senior legal counsel, data protection officer and contact person for the prevention of terrorism and money laundering for the Hypo Group. Previously, Anna Kulju has worked as a legal specialist at Nordea and Danske Bank, mainly in family and inheritance law.

Anna Kulju feels that at this point in her career, moving to a new environment is particularly interesting. “It is great to bring my professional skills and experience to a new community and to meet new people and challenges,” she says.

“For me, the content and relevance of the work is very important. Especially now, when there are so many cuts in cultural funding, I am particularly keen to work for culture and science. Literature, culture, science and the arts in their various forms have always played a big role in my life,” says Anna Kulju.

Harmaahiuksinen, silmälasipäinen mies mustassa puvussa.

Tommi Tähtinen

Tommi Tähtinen, MSc, will take up his position as Investment Director at the Finnish Cultural Foundation on 1 November 2024. He joins the Foundation from Aktia Bank, where he has worked as Head of Asset Allocation since 2017, and before that as a Portfolio Manager. Prior to that he worked at Kaupthing Bank and Evli, among others.

“The Finnish Cultural Foundation is an organisation I have known for a long time, having had the opportunity to work with the current asset management team. I have a high regard for the foundation as a long-term investor and a broad-based player,” says Tommi Tähtinen. 

“The Finnish Cultural Foundation’s large investment portfolio offers the opportunity to learn a lot of new things, even though my own knowledge is diverse and up to date. I am also looking forward to seeing how the world of culture, science and art opens up through the Foundation and its stakeholders”. 

“Our long-standing Directors of Legal Affairs and Investment are due to retire shortly. We were pleased to see a high level of interest in the open positions. I am delighted that Anna Kulju and Tommi Tähtinen will bring their experience and expertise to our skilled team,” says Susanna Pettersson, CEO of the Finnish Cultural Foundation.