The Foundation received 564 applications during the spring 2026 round. Grants totalling €336,900 were awarded to 20 applications; €8,000 working grants were awarded to eight applicants, six received €16,000 and four €32,000. Additionally, two applicants were awarded grants for expenses. Project grants were awarded in the amount of €137,000. The decisions have been sent by email to all applicants.
Grants for international breakthrough, diversity and artistically significant projects
In the spring 2026 round, grants were awarded to 19 individual applicants and one working group. The grants are awarded to professional long-term music creators who represent a wide range of genres.
Recipients included, among others, pop music producer/music creator Joona Pietikäinen for travel, accommodation and working costs related to achieving international breakthrough; composer Asta Hyvärinen for composing a Voyager themed opera; pioneer of alternative rock Mikko Siltanen for creative work; jazz composer and performer Selma Savolainen for composing a commissioned work; concert music composer Matthew Whittall who has worked in Finland for 25 years for creative work and career development; Ringa Manner, working with both popular as well as art music, for creative work; and Finnish-Sámi composers Lauri Marjakangas and Marianna Sihvonen for creating an electroacoustic work exploring identity and language.
Project grant recipients included, among others, Time of Music Viitasaari (Viitasaaren Musiikin aika ry) for international promotion of contemporary Finnish music; Prod By Me ry for developing and establishing a music producer course for women, non-binary and transgender participants; and for music publishing company Elements Music for developing a new model for creating international careers for Finnish music creators.
”Grants were awarded to ambitious music creators, innovators of their genre or style. Their applications demonstrated a clear drive to move forward and reach a new level in their work or career. Project grants were awarded to projects that were considered to have a significant impact on achieving international breakthrough for the works and creators, and developing the entire field toward greater diversity”, Teijamari Jyrkkiö, Managing Director of the Foundation, describes the grant criteria.
All awarded grants are available on our website.
Supporting creators of Finnish music
The Teosto Cultural Foundation was established in January 2024. Including this spring round, a total of €1,304,900 has been awarded to music creators and €370,000 for projects benefitting the field of music. In 2026, grants are for the first time awarded twice a year both in March and September.
Based on feedback from previous rounds, improvements and additions have been made to the grant process. The Foundation’s second application round with its own application criteria and on its own online service proceeded smoothly.
”Our work as a Foundation is just beginning and it is important to listen to the opinions from the field. I want to thank each applicant and especially all who provided feedback during the application process. Above all, I want to warmly congratulate all recipients of grants! Your work is important to us all” says Grant coordinator Lissu Kirves.
The September round will be open from 1 to 21 of September. Project grants applications are accepted year-round.