The Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes

The network of Finnish cultural and academic institutes consists of 16 institutes abroad and the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Centre in Hanasaari, Espoo.

Culture and science

Of these institutes, thirteen are cultural and four are academic. The basic goal of the cultural institutes is to promote Finnish culture in their target area. The academic institutes in Rome, Athens, Damascus and Tokyo, on the other hand, focus on research and teaching in their area of expertise, and facilitate research cooperation between Finland and the target area. Since some cultural institutes run their own science programmes and some academic institutes are also engaged in cultural activities, the division between the two is not always clear.

The institutes form an integral part of Finland’s international cultural exchange. They contribute significantly to cultural exports and the internationalisation of Finnish research. The institutes are innovative and cost-efficient expert organisations, boosting Finland’s visibility abroad.

What do the Institutes do?

All of the institutes share the basic objectives mentioned above. Their modes of operation, however, can vary greatly depending on their circumstances. The institutes, for example:

▪ implement art and cultural exchange projects
▪ establish contacts with local organisations and institutions
▪ organise international cultural events
▪ conduct scientific research
▪ develop education exports
▪ organise seminars, lectures and expert meetings
▪ offer courses on Finnish language and culture
▪ assist in finding information on Finnish culture, society and education system (libraries, media libraries, Internet sites, search engines etc.)

The activities of the institutes are described in greater detail on their respective pages.

Where do the Institutes operate?

The institutes’ areas of operation cover almost 70 countries, varying from one specific country to an entire cultural area. The areas of operation are shown on the map page.

Background

All cultural and academic institutes are independent, non-profit organisations maintained by a private foundation or fund. They are not dependent on official Finnish cultural and scientific policies, which adds to their flexibility and credibility in the eyes of local cultural institutions, partners and the general public.

Cooperation between the institutes is coordinated and developed by the Association of Finnish Cultural and Academic Institutes. The association also supports the position of the institutes in Finland. They maintain regular contact with one another and hold biannual meetings with their partners: once in Finland and once abroad as the guests of a fellow institute.

The institutes receive basic funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture, and work in close cooperation with the Finnish embassy in their country of location. Their projects are also funded by various foundations supporting sciences and culture, corporations, and partners both in Finland and abroad. This brings substantial added economic value to the internationalisation of Finnish culture, arts, science and education. In the arts, the institutes work in close cooperation with Finnish culture information centres and cultural export organisations, and in the academic world with universities and other institutions of higher education.

http://en.instituutit.fi/info —20 May 15:42