Tampere awards €125,000 to 19 projects to boost culture across the city in 2027

Tampere will distribute €125,000 to support cultural development projects taking place in 2027. An open call held 16 September–7 October 2026 drew 35 applications and resulted in grants for 19 projects, following the city's September announcement opening applications for the 2027 programme when the city invited proposals.

The funding is divided into three streams: €25,000 for general culture development, €50,000 for festival development and €50,000 reserved for Operaatio Pirkanmaa to boost culture in neighbourhoods. Supported initiatives include efforts to improve accessibility and inclusion, pilot new cultural spaces and formats, extend neighbourhood outreach, promote internationalisation, develop professional skills in the arts, encourage multicultural activity and upgrade festivals.

Pia Keltti, lead coordinator of the Culture Support and Accessibility team in Tampere’s city cultural unit, said the extra appropriations allowed the city to support more projects than usual and to extend cultural content beyond the city centre. The grants may fund experiments, new operational models and space solutions, help build networks among cultural communities and prepare projects for national or EU funding applications.