The Culture bank expands to North Savo
Culture Bank is an online service that brings together artists and cultural professionals along with their bookable services in one unified platform. Scheduled for launch in autumn 2025, the platform will showcase creators of art and culture across multiple Finnish regions.
Originally developed by the City of Tampere, the Pirkanmaa Culture Bank is now expanding into a nearly nationwide service. Professional artists and cultural practitioners can register on the platform, create a profile page, and link their bookable services to it.
“Culture Bank is a valuable opportunity for the artists and cultural professionals of the region, as the service is free of charge for registered providers,” says Janna Merenniemi, Regional Development Specialist at the Regional Council of North Savo. Training sessions on how to use the platform will be organized during the autumn, so keep an eye out for announcements. Visibility on the platform can significantly boost employment opportunities for professionals both within their own region and across regional boundaries.
In addition to Pirkanmaa, Culture Bank will expand to the following regions: Åland, South Karelia, South Ostrobothnia, South Savo, Kanta-Häme, Kymenlaakso, Ostrobothnia, North Karelia, North Ostrobothnia, North Savo, Päijät-Häme, Satakunta, Uusimaa, and Southwest Finland.
In North Savo, the Regional Council will cover the platform costs on behalf of all municipalities in the region. The City of Kuopio will manage the platform’s moderation in collaboration with the municipalities of Iisalmi, Lapinlahti, and Varkaus. Moderation ensures the professional quality of the artistic and cultural services listed on the platform. Culture Bank also increases the visibility and interconnectedness of creators in Eastern Finland.
Increased Visibility and Collaboration Opportunities for Creative Professionals
Nationwide, the platform is expected to host approximately 6,000 creator profiles, 4,000 bookable services, and 1,000 registered clients. The Culture Bank platform will also be available in Swedish and English.
For creators, the platform enhances job opportunities and national visibility, while promoting equality among diverse artists and disciplines. For clients, it provides access to a broader range of cultural and artistic services. The expansion will form a national network across regions, raising awareness, appreciation, and the visibility of culture and the arts.
Culture Bank strengthens collaboration between municipal cultural services, regional councils, the new wellbeing services counties, and employment and economic development services. It also supports municipalities in fulfilling their statutory mission to promote the conditions for professional artistic work and activities.
The expansion project is coordinated by the City of Tampere. From May 2025 onwards, technical implementation will be provided by Red & Blue Ltd. Funding for the expansion has been granted by the Ministry of Education and Culture and comes from the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), part of the Next Generation EU instrument.
