About us
For more than 30 years, The Finnish Institute has been weaving cultural ties between Finland, the UK, and Ireland. As the leading expert on Finnish arts and culture, we foster cross-sectoral exchange, build long-term cooperation and spark new thinking and dialogue. We are an independent, private non-profit foundation, funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture, and one of the 17 Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes. The Institute is a member of the European Network of Cultural Institutes (EUNIC).
Strategy
Our Ambition
We foster impactful connections, placing art, culture, and science at the core of societies. We exist to empower voices, build bridges, and support creativity across Finland, the UK and Ireland.
Our Purpose
We are a trusted partner bringing together artists, researchers, policymakers and communities for thought-leading dialogue — establishing Finland's creative practice as vital to shaping the future.
Our Values
Our goals
Our goal is to position culture as a catalyst for positive social change, bridging divisions and fostering a more just, equitable future. We deliver our purpose through four programme pillars:
Investing in creative work
We support creative practice through open calls, residencies, and collaborative projects, nurturing both individual artists and societal creativity.
Cross-sectoral dialogue
We convene artists, researchers, and decision-makers for critical dialogue across disciplines—prototyping new thinking and championing diverse voices to address shared challenges.
Sustainable mobility
We enable professional exchange and international work through carbon-conscious travel, touring, and long-term residencies—prioritising impact over volume.
Capacity building
We connect artists, organisations, and thought leaders internationally to share knowledge, support wellbeing and learn from practices through professional visits, mentoring, and peer-learning.
Who we are
Aleksi Malmberg (he/him)
Director
Shaped by extensive career in international cultural leadership, Aleksi grounds his strategic vision in fairness, dialogue and curiosity.
Sara Kärpänen (she/her)
Programme Director, Arts
With over a decade in London, Sara brings a strong curatorial voice and storytelling approach to the Institute’s arts programming.
Annika Pellonpää (she/her)
Administration and Project Manager
With broad financial management experience, Annika oversees the administration and project management at the Institute.
Malin Groop
Chair
Tiina Pusa
Board member
Jeremiah Tesolin
Board member
John Webster
Board member
Heli Suominen
Board member
Charlie Walker
Board member
Join our newsletter
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates, events, and insights into Finnish culture, creativity, and collaboration.
