Criteria and information about the award
About the Minna Canth Award
The Minna Canth Award is a nationally significant Finnish award. The recipient of the award has made exceptionally meritorious contributions, at the national level or above, to one or more of the main criteria of the award.
Main criteria
- Promoting the principles of democracy and civil society
- Promoting equality and inclusion in society
- Promoting freedom of expression
- Promoting learning and well-being by means of science or culture
- Promoting equality
- Promoting sustainable development
The Minna Canth Award aims to highlight activities or actions that strengthen democracy and promote the future in a sustainable and fair manner towards the eventuation of equality, learning, and freedom of expression, and whose impact on society can be clearly demonstrated.
Administration of the award
The Minna Canth Award is administered by the City of Kuopio as the responsible party, in collaboration with Savon Sanomat and the University of Eastern Finland.
The award working group is chaired by Professor Jukka Mönkkönen from the University of Eastern Finland. The working group consists of author Sirpa Kähkönen, editor-in-chief Matti Pietiläinen, Mayor Soile Lahti, Genelec Oy CEO Siamäk Naghian, marketing director Kirsi Soininen, and Kaisa Lumilampi.
The sum of the prize is 35.000 euros, and it is funded based on donations from the foundations and companies that support the award. The award is funded in 2025-2026 by Genelec Oyj, the Olvi Foundation, the Saastamoinen Foundation, and the Savings Bank Optia Foundation.
Who chooses the recipient of the award?
The pre-jury for the award is the award working group, supplemented by representatives of the funding contributors. The pre-jury will shortlist a maximum of 10 candidates from among the nominees for the award.
In 2025, the actual jury will consist of five people, whose names will be published on this webpage at a later time.