The Minna Canth Award is awarded to an individual or collective entity that has made exceptionally meritorious contributions, at the national level or above, to one or more of the main criteria of the award.
Candidates are considered through nomination, and may not apply on their own behalf. The members of the award working group, pre-jury, or jury are not permitted to make nominations for the award.
The Minna Canth Award is awarded annually. The award is administered by the City of Kuopio.
The prize is awarded by the Minna Canth Award Jury, the composition of which is set until further notice. The sum of the prize is 35 000 euros and it is paid out to the winner exempt of tax.
The selection of the Minna Canth Award shortlist is carried out by a pre-jury that lists a maximum of ten nominees for the award. The pre-jury consists of the award working group, supplemented by representatives of the funding contributors (Genelec Oy, Olvi Foundation, Saastamoinen Foundation, Savings Bank Optia Foundation). The award working group consists of: Professor Jukka Mönkkönen (Chairman), author Sirpa Kähkönen, editor-in-chief Matti Pietiläinen, Mayor Soile Lahti, Genelec Oy CEO Siamäk Naghian, marketing director Kirsi Soininen, and secretary Kaisa Lumilampi.
Eligibility for the award is subject to the decision of the award working group.
The jury is obliged to seek unanimity in its decision. If no unanimity can be reached, a vote shall be taken if even one member of the jury so requests. The jury has five members, so the vote cannot be tied. No member may abstain.
The shortlisted nominees for the award will be published on the Minna Canth Award website. At the website, grounds for the selection of nominees and the award winner are also published. Assessment of the nominees, discussions among the jury, or any votes taken in its meetings will not be published.
The award working group shall confirm the schedule of the award ceremony, nomination instructions, and criteria for the award each year.
Any decision to amend these rules will be taken by the award working group.
