Cutbacks and layoffs at Culture for All
The economic crisis that began last year continues and is getting worse.
The annual subsidy granted to the Association for Culture on Equal Terms (Yhdenvertaisen kulttuurin puolesta ry) to maintain the Culture for All Service for 2025 is only 164,000 euros, which is 94,000 euros or 36% less than the last subsidy in 2023. In 2024, the organisation faced serious financial vulnerabilities due to a substantial shortfall in operational funding. On top of this, the current cuts have further strained our ability to operate at full capacity.
The economic situation is so serious for the reasons mentioned above that the association's board has determined that it is necessary to lay off the association's entire permanent staff for a total of three months (90 days) in 2025.
As a result of the layoffs, our office will be closed from June to the end of August. Kaikukeskus will also not be able to serve municipalities and welfare areas normally during the summer. Kaikukeskus develops and coordinates the activities of the national Kaikukortti card, which is currently in use in over 100 municipalities and in more than 10 welfare areas.
The cuts in the cultural sector are devastating
“Such major cuts and the layoffs the association has been forced to make weaken our ability to carry out our mission to support the national arts and culture sector and the cultural administration in matters of accessibility, diversity and equity. This is very worrying at a time when inequality and polarization are constantly increasing in society, and we need more resources to promote equity – not less,” says the Executive Director Rita Paqvalén.
“We are also very concerned about the major cuts being made to our member organisations and other cultural actors. The savings being made now are causing deep damage that may be difficult to repair later. The sum, which may seem small in the state budget, is a great resource in the cultural sector and a lot can be achieved with it.”
The cuts in the cultural sector, together with the Finnish government’s other cuts, are having a devastating impact on both the sector’s viability and growth potential, as well as on the equal opportunities for individual artists to work. Freelancers, cultural workers and artists from various minority backgrounds, such as disabled artists or foreign-born artists, are particularly vulnerable, as they are also suffering from cuts in social welfare services and the government’s tightening of immigration policy.
The association For Culture on Equal Terms (Yhdenvertaisen kulttuurin puolesta ry) maintains the Culture for All Service, which was founded in 2003. The service has promoted equity, accessibility and diversity in the arts and culture sector for over 20 years. The service acts as an expert body and a social influencer, and offers cultural and arts actors, cultural administrations and actors in the social and health sectors practical tools, consultations, training and tailored information to promote equal treatment and strengthen participation in the field.
