Visual arts industry organisations search possible merging, phD Juha Heikkala appointed as rapporteur

The Artists' Association of Finland, the Centre for Finnish Media Art AV-arkki, Frame Contemporary Art Finland and the House of Visual Arts (Kuvataiteen talo) have received a project grant from the Ministry of Education and Culture to draw up a roadmap for the merger of actors in the visual fields. The project will start in the beginning of 2025.

The project will focus on the possibilities of deepening collaboration and merger of different types of networks of organizations within the visual arts industry, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of merger. The project will look at two different types of networks of organizations within the visual arts industry and their potential for merger as case studies: 1) the Artists' Association of Finland and its six member associations (Artists’ Association MUU, the Association of Finnish Sculptors, the Union of Finnish Art Associations, the Association of Finnish Printmakers, Finnish Painters’ Union and the Association of Photographic Artists) and 2) the internationally active associations in the field of media arts: AV-arkki, Bioart Society, M-Cult, Pixelache Helsinki (Piknik Frequency) and the Finnish Light Art Society FLASH.

The roadmap is a tool for development and discussion, and no organisation is committed to merging at this stage.

- The project has started from the observation that although the field of associations in the visual fields is rich and varied, there is some overlap in the work of the associations. Studies have shown, that visual arts associations are, on average, less  funded than other arts. The tightening funding situation in the cultural sector has given the final push for this survey project, but there has been active and positive discussion in the field about collaboration and integration already for a long time, for example within the House of Visual Arts network, says Annukka Vähäsöyrinki, Director of the Artists' Association of Finland.

- The media arts communities have long cooperated in a wide range of projects and in developing the sector, supporting each other. There is no overlap in our activities, but all communities are struggling with limited resources. The ongoing study project gives us an opportunity to think about the development of the field from new perspectives, says Hanna Maria Anttila, Director of AV-arkki. 

Juha Heikkala, PhD, as a rapporteur

Juha Heikkala, PhD in Social Sciences, has been appointed as the project rapporteur and producer of the roadmap. Heikkala is commissioned by the Artists' Association of Finland. Heikkala will start working on the project in January 2025.
 

Heikkala has more than twenty years of experience on third sector organisations. He has consulted on more than 60 strategy processes with NGOs, public bodies and other communities in various sectors. Prior to his career as a consultant, Heikkala worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Education and Culture and as an expert in sports organisations. Heikkala has been involved in exploring or implementing mergers of organisations with trade union confederations, sports organisations, development organisations, Leader groups and regional district organisations. Heikkala has become familiar with the cultural sector through his consultancy work on the strategic processes of TEME and the Circus and Dance Information Centre.

- It is a very inspiring job, I see the cultural field as a very interesting sector. Times are turbulent and I think it is important that cultural communities proactively consider their activities and possible mergers, says Juha Heikkala.

Dialogue with the visual arts field is an important part of the project

The project is working on a scenario-based approach to develop future perspectives for collaboration and possible merger of visual communities. During this work, the consultant will discuss with each of the organisations studied. The project will also explore artists' views on future service needs.

The project will result in a roadmap, a written report and guidelines, which will also be translated into English and published. The results of the project will thus benefit cultural communities of different sizes, operating in different parts of Finland, that are considering merging. The report will also include a comparative study of examples of merger from other arts and cultural sectors.

The project partners Frame Contemporary Art Finland and the House of Visual Arts will act as information mediators and platforms for the wider community network in the sector.

Further information:

Annukka Vähäsöyrinki
Director, Artists' Association of Finland
tel. 0400 773 105
annukka.vahasoyrinki@artists.fi

Hanna Maria Anttila
Director, AV-arkki
tel. 040 557 0320
director@av-arkki.fi

Juha Huuskonen
Director, Frame Contemporary Art Finland
juha.huuskonen@frame-finland.fi

Venla Styrman
Project Coordinator, House of Visual Arts
venla@kuvataiteentalo.fi