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 to the bank account specified in the applicant’s application after the grant decision has become legally valid, after the grant recipient has delivered all documents required by the grantor and has settled all outstanding receivables to the city that have arisen before the date of the grant decision. Payment of the aforementioned receivables does not apply to those who have made a payment plan.

If you apply for a grant for an association, provide the association’s account number (not a private individual’s account number).

According to Section 82 of the Income Tax Act, tax-exempt income includes, among other things, scholarships or other grants received for the purpose of studies, scientific research, or artistic activities.

With regard to organizations, tax exemption applies to public-benefit associations. Tax Authority Guidelines for Public-Benefit Associations (2.4): Activities that are mandated by law or substantially supported or subsidized by public funds are, as a general rule, tax-exempt activities of a public-benefit association. Activities supported by public funds may include, for example, those in the fields of education, social services, and cultural activities.

• Grants are awarded:
• The applicant’s municipality of residence must be Vaasa
• The activity must clearly be cultural activity. The recipient must comply with applicable laws and regulations and good practice in their activities.
• Grants may be awarded to private individuals, working groups, associations and organisations
• Grants may be awarded

  • as a project grant
    – for project-based cultural activities
    – for professional artistic work
    – for public activities that increase participation and community
  • as an operational grant
    – to Vaasa-based communities and associations engaged in active cultural work for activities in accordance with their rules
    – for established and continuous cultural activity as a 1- or 3-year grant

• The applicant must submit a clear activity plan and a realistic cost estimate in the application.
• Recipients of project grants must submit a written report on the use of the grant by the end of April of the following year (30 Apr). If the report is not submitted, the grant will be reclaimed.
• If an association’s previous year’s financial statements and activity report are not yet ready when applying for the grant, the most recent financial statements and activity report must be provided. The previous year’s financial statements and activity report must be submitted once they are completed. Attachments must be in PDF format.
• The grant is paid only against complete application documents (activity plan, budget, previous year’s financial statement documents). Attachments must be in PDF format.
• The grant will be paid to the bank account specified in the applicant’s application after the grant decision has become legally valid, after the grant recipient has delivered all documents required by the grantor and has settled all outstanding receivables to the city that have arisen before the date of the grant decision. Payment of the aforementioned receivables does not apply to those who have made a payment plan.
• The grant recipient
  – mentions the financier (City of Vaasa) in all communications and similar materials
  – registers events or occasions they organise in the city’s electronic event calendar
• Late applications will not be processed.
• The Board of Culture and Sports may decide annually on possible yearly priorities or themes

Grants are not awarded:

• if the applicant receives a grant from another department of the city for the same purpose.
• to the same private individual for two consecutive calendar years
• for travel expenses
• for participation in a basic degree, lectures, seminars or courses
• for religious and party-political events or dissemination of a message
• for closed events
• for alcohol, food and catering costs
• primarily for activities taking place outside Vaasa

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 Finnish or Swedish:

Application for rent subsidy