Background information

Due to the social distancing recommendations and restrictions, the culture and creative arts sector has been hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many work as freelancers, solo self-employed or sole proprietors. These groups have been excluded from many of the other forms of support available for enterprises in Finland.

To support individuals and small businesses in this sector, a separate grant is available for these groups.

Content of measure

Two types of grants are available: one for private individuals (e.g. freelancers) and one for solo self-employed or sole traders.

Private individuals can apply for a work grant that is €6,000. The grant is available for professional artists and other professionals whose work and income have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Solo self-employed and sole traders can apply for grant that is either €8,000 or €12,000, depending on the scope of their business. The grant is intended for entreprises that have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.

As of June 2021, five application rounds have been organised. The total budget of the fifth application round is €55 million. The grants are administrated by Arts Promotion Centre Finland.

Use of measure

As of June 2021 (when the fifth application round was opening), the number of beneficiaries was approximately 9,500. The total amount of support granted was around €43 million.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Solo-self-employed Sector specific set of companies One person or microenterprises	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
Public support service providers	Local funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Unknown	Unknown
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

No information available.

Views and reactions

Trade Union for Musicians has been critical of the amount and scope of financial support provided for professionals in the culture and creative arts sector. According to the union, the Arts Promotion Centre should make sure that the grants are directed to those individuals and enterprises who have been most negatively affected by the crisis, otherwise the sums that are granted are so small that the impact is limited.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 06 June 2021: Cultural corona support package: support must be properly targeted and mobilized immediately (musiikintekijat.fi)
• 11 June 2021: The Fifth Corona Application in the field of art and culture is from 16 June to 30 June (www.taike.fi)