How to succeed as a visual artist in Finland? What structures support a career as an artist – and what obstacles stand in the way?
VisRak – Infrastructure as a Success Factor in the Visual Arts is a development project funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture that seeks answers to these questions. The project is carried out by the Center for Cultural Policy Research (Cupore) in collaboration with the Academy of Fine Arts at the University of the Arts Helsinki, the Artists’ Association of Finland, Frame Contemporary Art Finland, and Kuvasto.
In the project, success is understood as the ability of professional artists to sustain themselves and develop their careers long-term in Finland. The data is primarily collected through a survey for artists who graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts between 2013 and 2023, providing an up-to-date view of the challenges and opportunities in the field.
The project results in concrete development proposals, an information package, seminars, and workshops where solutions are explored together with artists and other art professionals. The project aims to create better working conditions for visual artists and strengthen the visual arts sector in Finland.
The alumni of the Academy of Fine Arts at Uniarts Helsinki may respond to the survey by 7 March 2025 via the following link:
The collected information will be used in the information package and in a seminar and workshop series organised at the end of 2025. The events are open to everyone interested in the development of the sector.
For more information about the research project, please visit Cupore website.