The New Classics fund awards grants for performing arts – call for applications to open in September

Set up by the state and four foundations in 2022, the New Classics fund supports the work and growth of artists who have already established themselves in the field of art in Finland. Organisations of performing arts in fields such as theatre, circus, dance and music can apply for a grant for their production between 1 and 15 September 2025.

“As in previous New Classics application rounds, the applicant must be a recipient of an operational subsidy from the Arts Promotion Centre Finland (Taike). However, this criterion has been slightly broadened: artists who received the operational subsidy in 2024, but for whom it ended in the current year, are also eligible to apply,” says Johanna Ruohonen, Secretary of the New Classics fund.

The funded production must be made in cooperation with at least one performance art operator or a national art institution that is receiving a state subsidy.

“The funding is intended to enable new forms of cooperation in the field of performing arts. The production can be a revival of a previous performance or a new premiere, and the grant can be used for organising visiting performances at various venues or other tour activities. The main thing is that the artists strive to increase attendance at their production, thus increasing the overall number of people visiting art events,” Ruohonen explains.

A key feature of the New Classics funding is the way the grant amount is determined. In addition to the basic amount of the grant, if any, awarded on the basis of the application, successful applicants will receive additional funding during the grant period. The amount of this additional funding (known as the calculated amount) is determined according to the proceeds from ticket sales. The basic amount ranges between €10,000 and €60,000, and the calculated amount is a maximum of €300,000. In other words, the calculated amount that is based on ticket sales is a maximum of five times the basic amount received by the applicant.

The New Classics fund aims to support the role and significance of art in society and to increase the lifespan of the productions and works of art, as well as the number of people who see them. The fund was set up jointly by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the following four foundations: the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland, the Alfred Kordelin Foundation and the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.