Support Foundation

The Support Foundation for visual artists provides means-tested grants for visual artists or their family members. The applicant must be a personal member of one of the member organisations of the Finnish Artists' Association which are: Artists’ Association MUU, Association of Finnish Sculptors, Association of Finnish Printmakers, Finnish Painters Union and Association of Photographic Artists.

Who can apply for a grant?

• illness or disability allowance may be granted to visual artists who have fallen ill or who cannot work due to a disability, and whose assets, earnings or government subsidies are not enough to ensure their livelihood
• artists aged 60 or over who have a limited financial income 
• the closest relatives of a deceased artist who was a member of the Finnish Artists' Associations’ member organisation

How to apply for support

• the application form (in Finnish) can be downloaded from this site. If you’d like to order the application form by post, please contact the foundation’s ombudperson
• you can complete the application form electronically directly on the pdf form, or by hand.
• the application must be accompanied by: the previous year's tax return, the previous month's bank statement and, if necessary, other attachments (e.g. a doctor's certificate)
• if you are applying for a funeral grant, please include a statement of the estate's assets and liabilities.
• submit your application via email to marketta.tuomainen@artists.fi or via post to: 

Kuvataiteilijain huoltosäätiö 

c/o Suomen Taiteilijaseura

Iso Roobertinkatu 3–5 A 22 

00120 Helsinki

• Please contact the Foundation before sending your application by email. The Foundation will give you instructions on how to send your application securely.

Processing of applications

Meetings of the board of the foundation are held, as necessary, to process any applications for support that it receives.

Taxability of grants

• grants awarded by the Support Foundation are taxed as other income. The recipient of the grant is responsible for the taxes due on the grant. 
• the recipient of the grant must on their own initiative declare the grant for tax purposes, either electronically in MyTax.fi or on paper form 50A Earned income and deductions (3023e). At the same time, the recipient can declare the expenses incurred for the grant awarded by the Support Foundation.

Keep in mind that if you have been awarded a grant by the Support Foundation, it may have an impact on the social assistance you receive from Kela. If necessary, contact Kela for more information.