Grant for cultural activity

Organisations and their representatives can register in the electronic grant system before the actual application period begins.

For the application you will need, among other things:

• bank codes or mobile certificate for registration/login
• the account number in IBAN format
• the association’s registration year, business ID or register number
• the association’s budget and action plan for the current year
• the previous year’s annual report, financial statements and audit report
• private persons: CV

The grant will be paid into the bank account indicated by the applicant once the decision of the authorities has become final and the recipient has submitted the documents required by the city. Before the grant is paid, the city will check whether it has any receivables from the recipient, and these will be offset against the grant to be paid.

• The applicant’s place of residence must be Vaasa
• Grants can be awarded to individuals and artists, working groups, associations and organisations
• Grants can be awarded as
  – project grants
  – operating/activity grants
• In their application, applicants must present a clear action/business plan and a realistic cost estimate.
• The grant recipient must submit a written report on the grant received by the end of April (30 April) of the following year. If the report is not submitted, the grant paid will be recovered.
• If the organisation’s financial statements and annual report from the previous year are not ready when the grant is applied for, the latest financial statements and annual report must be submitted. The previous year’s financial statements and annual report must be sent when they are ready. Grants are paid only on the basis of complete application documents (business plan, budget, previous year’s financial statements).
• The grant recipient
  – mentions the grant provider in its marketing material etc.
  – register their event or occasion in the city’s event calendar
• Grants are not awarded if the applicant is receiving a grant from another city administration for the same purpose.
• Applications submitted too late will not be processed.
• The City may decide annually on any special annual priorities
• Cultural grants are not awarded for
  – travel costs (excluding cultural exchanges to Umeå)
  – undergraduate examinations, attending lectures, seminars or courses
  – religious and party political events
  – closed events
  – alcohol, food and meal costs
  – activities taking place outside Vaasa (excluding cultural exchanges to Umeå)
  – the same private individual or artist for two consecutive calendar years

Project grants can be awarded for project-based cultural activities, for professional artistic work or for cultural, neighbourhood and art events in Vaasa. Events should be open to the public and increase participation and togetherness. The amount granted varies between 300-2500 euros.

The City can award activity grants for established and ongoing activities to organisations and associations that are actively involved in cultural work in Vaasa.

For the application you need to add the organisation’s:
– a clear action plan for the next year
– a budget for the next year
– previous year’s annual report, financial statements and audit report

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3-year activity grant

The grant is for organisations that have a strong desire to develop their activities and a clear development plan for three years.

The benefits of the 3-year model:
– use the development obligation of the grant to strengthen the organisation’s activities
– securing support for a longer period of time and the opportunity to systematically develop activities
– a possible increase in the grant
– more intensive partnership with the city’s cultural services and associations

In connection with the application you need
– a clear development plan on how the organisation intends to develop its activities over 3 years
– the organisation needs an annual indicative business plan and budget for a three-year period
– the previous year’s annual report, financial statements and audit report

Every year, the organisation and the cultural director must discuss how the development plan has gone and whether there have been any possible changes. The organisation does not need to apply for a grant every year, but it must send the financial statements and the annual report to the cultural director every year.

In addition to financial support, the association has the opportunity to receive support with premises; i.e. the City Hall, Culture House Fanny or Library’s Draama Hall.

Cultural operators have the opportunity to apply for a grant for the rent of workspaces in the premises of the Funkkis building. Rental subsidies for the year 2025 have been granted.

The rent subsidies are paid according to the decision for the whole year. If the beneficiary cancels their rental agreement in the middle of the year, they must repay the unused grant.

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

– The applicant must have Vaasa as their municipality of residence.

– The applicant must be the authorised signatory on the rental agreement and a valid rental agreement must be attached to the application.

– Rental grants can be awarded to private individuals and artists, working groups, associations and organisations.

– The activity supported on a discretionary basis must be artistic activity or artistic work (workspaces) or community-oriented cultural activity (in the form of events and workshops, for example). Rental subsidies are not granted for hobby activities.

– Grants are awarded for one calendar year at a time.

– In their application, applicants must justify why the City of Vaasa should award them a grant for rental costs.

– In addition, the applicant must state in their application the other grants and subsidies they have received or applied for and of which they are aware at the time of application.

– Late applications will not be processed.

PAYMENT OF THE GRANT

The grant will be paid into the bank account indicated by the applicant after the official decision has become final and the recipient has submitted the documents required by the grant awarding authority. Before the grant is paid, the City will check whether it has any claims against the beneficiary and will offset them against the grant to be paid.

Application in Swedish at the moment: