In 2026, there will two application rounds for music creators. The first from 1 to 21 March and the second from 1 to 21 September.
We are the Foundation for professional music creators. Our grants offer professional composers, lyricists and arrangers the opportunity to concentrate on their creative work and rise to a new level in their work and their careers. Our grants are a working grant for creative work and a grant for expenses for the costs of creative work.
In the below overview of the upcoming March application round, please, find tips and clarifications of our application process. Detailed instructions are on our Grants for music creators page; please, also familiarise yourself with our Frequently Asked Questions page for any questions that may arise before logging on to the online service.
March application round in a nutshell
The next application round for music creators is open from 1 to 21 March 2026.
You can apply for a working grant or a grant for expenses.
The working grants are either €8,000, €16,000 or €32,000. The €16,000 and €32,000 working grants are either for full-time or for part-time (50%) work. The working grant covers normal living expenses during the grant period, and up to 50% can be used for costs related to creative work.
The grant for expenses can be applied in an amount between €8,000 and €32,000 as needed by the applicant. The grant for expenses can be applied for costs related to creative work, such as purchases or international travel costs.
The working grant is available for private individuals and working groups. For the grant for expenses, in addition to individuals and working groups, also registered organisations and companies representing a creator are eligible.
The use of the grant starts no earlier than on 1 July 2026 and it must be used, depending on the grant amount and type, by 30 June 2027 or 30 June 2028.
The €16,000 and €32,000 working grant periods must be insured with the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution (Mela), and personal grants must be reported to the tax authorities.
An application info session will be organised on Teams in Finnish on Wednesday 4 March 2026 and in English on Thursday 5 March 2026, both from 14.00 to 15.30.
Application form
You can apply for a grant on our online service starting 1 March 2026 and the application round ends on 21 March 2026 at 23.59. The form and the link to the form opens on March 1st.
To make the best possible application, we have added instructions directly on the form. To help you write a concise application, we have limited the number of characters. A good application clearly describes the goals and the need for the grant, it is realistic, credible and inspiring.
The application form is divided in four sections:
STATISTICAL DATA
We want to know who applies for grants, and whom we are not yet reaching. These answers have no affect your chances to get a grant.
APPLICANT INFORMATION
Tell us about yourself, your working group, your company or organisation as a creator of music. Add a résumé to the application and if you apply as a company or organisation, add the latest annual report, financial statement and a current Trade Register extract. As an indicator of professionality in music making, we also want to know your annual income from music.
GOAL
At this stage, describe your plan for the use of the grant. This includes the purpose of the grant, the amount applied, the time period and what impact the grant would have for you at this point in time. If you apply for a grant for expenses, please, add a detailed budget.
WORK SAMPLES AND COMMITMENT
In the final stage, please, attach work samples as files or website links. Detailed instructions are on the actual application form.
The application can be edited up to 24 after it has been submitted. You can make the application in Finnish, English or Swedish.
Criteria and evaluation of applications
Our goal is to increase the cultural and financial value of Finnish music. Our grants are directed at professional active music creators who have worked long-term and have clearly explained why they have applied and how the grant would impact their work.
The applications are first processed by the Foundation to check that they have been applied for the specified time, amount and purpose, that the applicant is a professional music creator and that the attachments and links work properly.
After this, the applications are evaluated by a nine-member Expert Committee. First, the Committee members review all applications independently, after which they meet to make a recommendation for the Foundation Board. The experts focus especially on the content of the application, work samples, described goals and the significance of the grant to the applicant. The credibility and realism of the application are also evaluated.
The Foundation Board makes the final decision on recipients at the end of May.
Checklist for applicants
- The application period is from 1 March to 21 March 2026.
- The application form is filled in and submitted on our online service.
- Before logging in to the online service, please, read through the application instructions and check the Frequently Asked Questions.
- Attend the info session on Teams: in Finnish on 4 March and in English on 5 March, both from 14.00 to 15.30.
- Make sure you are applying funding specifically for making creative music and/or related costs.
- Ensure that you are applying for the correct time period, and are not applying for a grant retroactively.
- Check that no more than 50% of a working grant is allocated to costs and that you are not applying a grant for expenses for working.
- Make sure that all work samples and links are working and are direct links to the sample.
- Submit your application on time! You can edit it for 24 hours after submitting it.
Contact information:
If you have already checked our FAQ page but still have any questions about the application process, please, email us at .