In particular, we fund projects that strengthen renewal and diversity at the top-level of creative music-making. In our funding decisions, we emphasise projects that promote the visibility of professional music creators and their works, as well as projects trying to reach new audiences in Finland and abroad.
We direct our grants towards ambitious and innovative projects that aim for long-term impact and focus on structures within the field and music-making, or a large number of music creators and/or works. We are prepared to take risks together with applicants and, where appropriate, can support the same project over several years. Rather than distributing numerous small grants, we award larger grants to a smaller number of projects.
You can apply year-round
Please, read the following instructions before accessing the online service.
Submit your application via our online service →
Who can apply?
Project grants are intended for professionally operating organisations that promote, renew, publish or export Finnish music. The applicant must be a registered organisation with a Finnish Business ID, such as a foundation, association or company. Private individuals and working groups are not eligible to apply for project grants.
Previously funded projects can receive new funding with a new application.
What projects do we fund?
A prerequisite for receiving a grant is that the project promotes Finnish music and/or the operating conditions of its creators (composers, lyricists and arrangers), and aims to increase the creative and/or economic value of Finnish music. The project must create something new and be built around music creators, music-making and/or music works.
During this current strategy period, we concentrate on funding projects that strengthen renewal and diversity at the top-level of creative music-making. In our funding, we also emphasise projects that promote the visibility of professional music creators and their works, as well as projects trying to reach new audiences in Finland and abroad.
We award grants for projects that aim for long-term impact and focus on structures within the field or music, a large number of music creators and/or works. In a best-case scenario, a project can advance and benefit the entire field of creative music. We value projects in which the knowledge, models or networks created remain in place after the project ends, or their impact continues beyond the end of the project.
Project grants can be applied for short-term (one year or less) or multi-year projects. The duration and basis of the project is to be described and clarified in the application; they are the foundation in our decision-making.
Grants for organisations are always project-based: they cannot be used for the organisation’s general operations or expenses, but only for a specific project. This project must align with the Foundation’s goals and non-profit purpose and objectives, and a project that the organisation would not be able to carry out without external funding, for example, because of the financial risk involved. Our grants may not contribute to distortion in the commercial market or to the profit-making by the company. If a music publisher has been awarded a project grant for a project aiming at a creator’s international breakthrough, the publisher cannot reclaim any creator-related costs that have been covered by the grant from the creator.
Projects that align with our goals ideally include one or more of the following qualities:
- Projects that increase diversity and support the marginalized perspective.
- Projects that strengthen structures, promote the export of Finnish works or a music creator’s international breakthrough.
- High-risk projects that create something new or target new areas that the applying organisation cannot execute alone due to the risk.
- Projects that increase the value of the repertoire.
- Projects that increase the use of Finnish copyright protected music.
See projects that have been funded previously.
We do not award project grants for:
- Creating music on an amateur basis.
- Work or projects of an individual music creator.
- Purchase of separate small equipment, tools or musical instruments.
- Making music recordings.
- Production of individual music videos.
- Normal performing or touring activities.
- Funding of normal orchestra activities.
- General expenses related to concerts, live events, festivals or club activities.
- Costs related to premises.
- Start up or general business expenses of an organisation.
- Permanent funding of any activity.
When and how can you apply?
We accept funding applications for projects throughout the year (there is no separate application period for project grants). Applications are only accepted via the Foundation’s online service. Applications submitted by any other means are not taken into consideration.
The application must clearly state who are in charge of the project, what is done and with whom, to whom or for what the project is aimed at, what its impact is intended to be, and how the knowledge, models or networks created through the project will remain in place after the project ends or how the project’s impact will continue beyond the end of the project. In addition, the application must describe and justify how the project contributes to fulfilling the Foundation’s non-profit goals and objectives. The application must include a realistic project plan and budget explaining the share of the applicant’s own funding. The application must also list the project’s partners and their contact information.
Evaluation criteria for applications
When evaluating applications, we will consider them in relation to our goals of promoting diversity of music creators and their works, renewal in the field of music, and exposure and audience building of Finnish music creators and their works. The conditions for awarding funding are:
- The project must originate from music creators, creatorship or the work. Predominantly performing arts or non-professional projects are not eligible.
- The project is professional with a long-term impact even after the funding or the project has ended.
The application must clearly state and explain what the project aims to do and what its intended impact is, how the project contributes to the objectives of the Foundation, and include a realistic project plan and budget.
Assistance on making an application
We advise applicants on making an application if they have familiarised themselves with our application guidelines and have already started their application process. You can contact us via email at .
Decisions on project grants
Project grant applications received by the Foundation are reviewed by the Foundation Board, with assistance from the Foundation’s Project Committee and, where necessary, experts appointed for the specific case. We may request additional information about the project.
The Foundation Board makes decisions on project grants three times a year. The meetings take place in March, August and November. The exact dates of the meetings are not disclosed. The average processing time for applications is two to four months. The Foundation cannot guarantee that an application will be reviewed at a specific meeting.
Decisions on project grants 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.
The Foundation does not provide status updates on the application process nor justifications for its decisions.
Payment and reporting
We pay project grants once a month on the 25th of each month. A payment request must be submitted through our online service at least 15 days before the desired payment date.
Project grants are paid in one or several instalments based on the duration and amount of the grant.
Payment and reporting instructions are sent by email to the recipients of awarded grants, and they must submit a report of the use of the grant within the specified timeframe.
AI policy
The goal of the Foundation is to support creative work made by people. The Foundation does not provide funding for works created in entirety by generative AI services.
By submitting an application, applicants agree to comply with the terms of our AI policy. Should we discover that AI tools have been used against the policy after funding has been awarded, the Foundation can revoke the funding, suspend further payments and/or recover already paid funding.
The Foundation employees and expert committees are not allowed to use external AI platforms to process or evaluate applications. Our online service includes an integrated, secure AI feature that enables the Foundation employees and expert committees to analyse the information given in the applications. The AI does not make recommendations for funding. All decisions concerning applications are always made by humans.
Read our AI policy in full here.
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.