324 experts chosen for national arts assessment bank, including 42 from Pirkanmaa

A new expert bank of 324 members will carry out collegial assessments of art for the 2026–2029 period.

The Arts and Culture Authority received 1,227 nominations after asking roughly 300 cultural actors to propose members; professionals could also apply directly. About one third of candidates came through that open channel and a slight majority were nominated.

Henri Terho, the department director, called the restructuring a major change to the state's collegial assessment of art and welcomed the breadth of proposals. "The composition is more pluralistic and diverse than the former commissions, which ensures that decision-making draws on even broader expertise than before," he said.

Selection criteria included diversity, gender balance and regional representation. The final group is 62 percent women, 31 percent men and 7 percent other or undisclosed. Eighty-seven percent are native Finnish speakers, 6 percent Swedish speakers and 7 percent speakers of other languages. The average age is 48. There are 29 members under 35 and 21 over 65.

Regional representation is Northern 35 (Lapland, Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu); Eastern 32 (North Karelia, Northern Savonia, Southern Savonia and South Karelia); Central 42 (Central Ostrobothnia, South Ostrobothnia, Central Finland and Pirkanmaa); Western 39 (Ostrobothnia, Satakunta, Southwest Finland and Åland); Southern 26 (Kymenlaakso, Päijät‑Häme, Kanta‑Häme and Uusimaa outside the capital region); and Capital region 150.

The first panels to be appointed this autumn will evaluate art prizes. Panels for supplementary artist pensions and regional art grants will follow. Panel compositions will be published on the Arts and Culture Authority's website before applicants receive decisions, to maintain transparency.

The restructuring follows recent national moves to distribute arts funding across regions reported earlier and coincides with the expansion of Tampere's Culture Bank in Pirkanmaa, which may help local artists find opportunities under the new panel system earlier coverage.