Is Finland isolating itself? Recent 16.2 per cent funding cut to damage international mobility of theatre and drama

Despite the budget cut, TINFO is obligated to honour its previous commitments relating to Finland’s year as the Guest of Honour at the Frankfurt Book Fair. As part of this project, TINFO, in partnership with the German Theater der Zeit magazine, will be producing an extensive special issue showcasing Finnish theatre and theatre makers as well as an anthology of five Finnish plays translated into German. The distribution of both the magazine issue and anthology has been extended and targeted at theatre professionals in German-speaking Europe. We are also in a position to offer partial funding for read through productions due to take place at the Heidelberger Stückemarkt.

“This is a real blow for TINFO’s work internationally. Many other information centres in the arts industry face the same harsh reality. Is the objective here to isolate Finland?  We had prepared ourselves for cuts of up to 8–10 per cent but not this.  We particularly regret the loss of our drama translation grant programme. The fact that the decision was announced so late on (on 19 March) makes the situation particularly challenging. We now have to direct all our efforts towards doing all that can be done. We will be entering into negotiations with our project partners. Everything is relative. We have to believe that whatever doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger,” Hanna Helavuori, Director at Theatre Info Finland commented.  

For further information, please contact: Hanna Helavuori, Director, TINFO, hanna.helavuori(a)tinfo.fi

Last changed: 08/08/2014 at 12:55