The grants available in September 2025 are €8.000 and €32.000. In this application round the total amount awarded is a maximum of €640.000.
When can you apply?
Grants for music creators are offered twice a year. The Foundation’s spring round is March 1-21 and the autumn round September 1-21. Applications are only accepted during the application period and via the Foundation’s online service. Applications submitted by any other means will not be taken into consideration. Only one application per individual per round can be submitted.
What can you apply for?
We award grants for creative work and/or for expenses or services that contribute to the career of the music creator. These are a working grant (which may include expenses) or a grant for expenses.
As applicants can submit only one grant application per round, they may apply for either a working grant or a grant for expenses, both either €8.000 or €32.000. The grant is awarded only for the amount requested (€8.000 or €32.000).
Examples of eligible uses:
- Creative artistic work.
- Purchase of equipment or software related to artistic work.
- Residency travel and rent.
- Travel related to professional development.
- Musician’s fees for performances organized by the applicant.
- Communication and marketing costs related to the applicant’s career advancement.
- Participation in training enhancing applicant’s skills and career.
You can also apply for a grant for a long-term international residency and working abroad that focuses on achieving international breakthrough. This grant covers the travel and living expenses of the music creator and, when applicable, their music publisher. If a grant for breakthrough is paid to the music creator’s publisher, the publisher may not reclaim the funded travel and living expenses from the music creator.
The grant is not awarded for regular performances or tours of the applicant or their ensemble, or for the costs of releasing recordings. Unless the recording is made to support an international breakthrough of the music creator or their work, and the recording is needed for building a professional portfolio.
Who can apply?
Eligible to apply are composers, lyricists, arrangers and their working groups, music publishers or other parties representing the music creator.
Applicants must be Finnish citizens, persons residing permanently in Finland or a registered company or organisation based in Finland. A working group must have a designated main applicant responsible for the use of the grant and the reporting to the Foundation, other group members and other relevant parties.
Having previously received a grant does not prevent reapplying for a grant from the Foundation.
Working grant or grant for expenses
Our working grants are intended for creative work to cover normal personal living expenses over a specific time. Working grants are available for €8.000 or €32.000; up to 50% can be used to cover expenses.
All non-artistic work must be outsourced or compensated by a salary or fees with employer obligations met (such as incidental hiring expenses).
Working grants are for individuals only. A sole proprietor may also apply for a working grant as a private individual. Working groups are not eligible.
Working grants are tax-free up to the annually stipulated Finnish state’s artist grant amount. For more information on the taxation of grants, see the website of the Finnish Tax Administration.
A grant for expenses covers the costs that contribute to the career of the music creator, such as supplies, services and salaries or fees. The grants for expenses are €8.000 or €32.000.
Grants for expenses are open to individuals, working groups and registered associations or companies representing the music creator.
Use of the grant
The €8.000 grants (working and expenses) and the €32.000 grant for expenses applied for in the September 2025 round must be used during 2026.The €32.000 working grants are awarded for either 12 months of full-time work or 24 months of part-time work (50%). They must be used between January 1, 2026 and December 31, 2027.
An awarded full-time working grant cannot be combined with another working grant for the same period.
Evaluation criteria of applications
Applicants must be professional and demonstrate long-term commitment. Proven artistic ability and audience commitment in relation to the genre of the music is essential.
The application should highlight the professional vision of the applicant, the intended use of the grant and the impact the applicant is seeking to make. The goal may be artistic, exposure of the music creator or their work, or career advancement of the music creator to boost their professional skills to a new level.
When applying for a working grant to assist achieving an international breakthrough, the applicant’s international network is also evaluated.
Who evaluates the applications?
Our expert committee consisting of music creators and experts in the music industry and/or in creating music assesses the applications.
The application evaluation is a two-phased process. Firstly, the experts review the applications independently. Secondly, they meet to discuss the applications and their individual evaluations in a group setting to give their recommendation to the Foundation’s Board.
The recommendation is checked by the Foundation’s staff and then submitted to the Board. The Foundation Board decides on grants twice yearly in May and November. The exact dates of these meetings are not disclosed.
The Foundation does not provide status updates on the application process or justifications for its decisions.
When are decisions announced?
Decisions are emailed to applicants shortly after the relevant Board meeting. The decision is sent to the email given in the application. We recommend to also check your spam folder.
After the awarded grants are published on the Foundation’s website, they may be freely and publicly communicated by the recipient to relevant parties.
Payment and reporting
Grants are paid out quarterly in January, April, July and October. Grants are not paid at any other times.
Grants of €8.000 are paid in one instalment and grants of €32.000 are paid in four instalments.
Payment and reporting instructions are sent by email to all recipients of awarded grants, and they must submit a report of the use of the grant within the specified timeframe.
Insurance for working grants
Insurance is legally mandatory for all working grants awarded for four or more months. The recipient must allocate approximately 15% of a working grant (four months or longer) to cover the insurance premiums. It is the recipient’s responsibility to acquire the insurance and pay the premiums.
Mela, the Farmers’ Social Insurance Institution, provides social security for grant recipients related to pension, accidents and group life insurance.
For more information on social security for grant recipients, please, visit the Mela website.
Data protection
By applying for a grant from the Teosto Cultural Foundation the applicant provides personal information about themselves and possible working group members, which forms a register of personal data for the Foundation. The right to collect, store, use and otherwise process personal data is regulated by law.