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    • Hanaholmen kultur

    A networking programme for cultural managers working in small municipalities across Finland and Sweden.

    WHAT IS HANAHOLMEN KULTUR?

    Hanaholmen Kultur brings together professionals responsible for cultural services in municipalities with fewer than 40,000 inhabitants in Finland and Sweden to network, exchange experiences, and develop local cultural life. The aim is to strengthen local cultural ecosystems through shared insights based on the experiences and expertise of two closely connected neighbouring countries. Finland and Sweden share many similarities and a common interest in developing municipal cultural services.

    Hanaholmen Kultur was established to foster professional networks and personal connections among cultural sector practitioners. The idea is that these bilateral exchanges will contribute to the improvement of local cultural policies and practices in both countries.

    The programme is initiated and funded by the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Foundation. It runs over the course of one year and includes two in-person meetings, one hosted in Sweden and the other in Finland. The programme is conducted in English.

    Participation in the programme is free of charge. The in-person meetings do not entail any costs for participants. Participants are expected to use working hours to attend the programme activities.

    Timeline for Hanaholmen Kultur 2026

    INTERESTED? APPLY TO JOIN THE 2027 PROGRAMME!

    Are you responsible for cultural services in a small municipality in Sweden or Finland? Is your title cultural director, cultural producer, or something similar? Are you looking for fresh perspectives and peer support from colleagues across the Gulf of Bothnia? Hanaholmen Kultur may be the network you are looking for.

    You may apply if:

    • you are responsible for cultural services in a municipality
    • you are employed by the municipality
    • your municipality is located in Sweden or Finland
    • your municipality has no more than 40,000 inhabitants
    • you are prepared to commit to two in-person meetings: the first in May (17-19 May, Sweden) and the second in October (6-8 October, Finland) in 2027
    • your employer approves the use of working hours for participation in the in-person meetings.

    The programme is open to a maximum of 20 participants, with 10 participants from each country. We aim to ensure geographical diversity, with municipalities represented from different parts of Sweden and Finland.

    If you are interested, please fill in your details using the application form via the link below no later than 25 October 2026. Following the application period, all applicants who meet the criteria above will be invited for an interview. Interviews will take place in November, and admission decisions will be announced in December.

    Apply here in SwedishApply here in Finnish
    Photos from previous Hanaholmen Kultur -events taken by Mats Vassfjord

    PARTICIPANT EXPERIENCES

    The Hanaholmen Kultur programme represents a significant investment by the Swedish-Finnish Cultural Foundation. For this reason, participant feedback is extremely important. On average, participants have provided highly encouraging evaluations of the programme. Here are a few examples of written feedback:

    I believe that all the time dedicated to getting to know one another, and sometimes even being ‘forced’ to spend time together in different groupings, is incredibly valuable. We need to develop a good understanding of one another in order to build strong collaborations around ideas and initiatives that may at times be new and untested.

    This programme is an excellent way to share knowledge. By taking the time to participate, we give ourselves the opportunity to genuinely reflect on potential exchanges and collaborations between us.

    Even though the programme itself was quite comprehensive, with lectures, meals, and coffee breaks all featuring programme content, it never felt overwhelming. Throughout the event, you could simply be yourself, and it felt like time for yourself rather than an obligation.

    THE HANAHOLMEN CULTURE ALUMNI NETWORK

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    The Hanaholmen Kultur programme was launched in 2022. The approximately 60 individuals who have participated in the programme are part of an alumni network whose members stay in touch and meet at various events for cultural professionals, such as the Folk och Kultur convention in Eskilstuna, Sweden. The development of alumni activities is currently ongoing.

    Members of the Alumni Network

    Please note that the municipality listed is the one where the participant was employed at the time of their participation in the Hanaholmen Kultur programme. Their place of employment may therefore have changed since then.

    INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE?

    Contact Aino, Project Manager of Hanaholmen Kultur!

    Aino Kostiainen

    Programme Manager | Culture and Art

    +358 (0)40 551 9933

    aino.kostiainen@hanaholmen.fi