Finnish Music Council public policy programme

Music has a strong and positive presence across the whole of Finnish society. This has been achieved through many years of education, expertise and hard work and is something we can rightly take great pride in.

Music is an essential part of the very soul of our society and plays a significant role in fostering our cultural identities.

When people have the opportunity to engage with music, it helps to promote their sense of well-being and fosters community cohesion and a sense of togetherness.

It is essential to preserve and enhance the vitality and potential of Finnish music and every effort must be made to ensure that its cultural and economic potential is utilised in full.

A universal right to music

The International Music Council has determined a set of universal music rights to promote the right of everyone to access and express themselves through music and to participate in music making.  The international Music Rights are an excellent guide for the music sector in Finland as well as Finland’s political decision-makers. 

5 Music Rights

The right for all children and adults

• To express themselves musically in all freedom
• to learn musical languages and skills
• to have access to musical invovlement throught participation, listening, creation, and information

The right for all musical artists

• to develop their artistry and communicate through all media, with proper facilities at their disposal
• to obtain just recognition and fair remuneration for their work.

FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

It is the duty of the Finnish Music Council to safeguard freedom of expression and diversity of expression in Finland and beyond. We wish to amplify the voices of those whose music cannot be heard today and those who have been silenced completely.

We want to create new opportunities for participation in music and to reform social attitudes and structures.

LEARNING

We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to enjoy music regardless of their background,
financial means, language or age.

• We promote access to music education
  in nurseries and other day care facilities.
• We recognise the importance of art and creative subjects being taught
  at Finnish schools and will work to ensure that the necessary resources are available to make this a reality for all.
• We promote equal opportunities
  for all school pupils across Finland to participate in the basic arts education curriculum.
• We will strive to ensure that high-quality, comprehensive vocational music education degrees
  are available across Finland.
• We will offer educational provision for immigrants.

We will ensure that music tuition is comprehensive and high-quality.

To achieve our aims, we will need

• Diverse curricular content
• Engagement with the latest technological innovations
• A commitment to encourage all participants to explore their own creativity and self-expression
• A sustainable supply of qualified teachers, tutors
• and practitioners with specialist training, including composers, choir masters, conductors and church musicians.

PARTICIPATION

We want to make participation in music making as accessible as possible. Music belongs to all of us, regardless of
our background, financial means, language or age.

• We want to support minority groups in engaging with music and participating in music making.
• We want to ensure that there are specialist staff available to offer
  music education to students with special needs.
• We want to ensure that people of all ages can
  enjoy music.
• We want to ensure that discounted opportunities are available for people who need them.
• We want to ensure that records, sheet music and other written resources
  are available to all.
• We want to enhance the role of Yleisradio as a cultural institution and in promoting and recording music.
• We want to ensure that more resources are made available to organise touring music productions and other events.
• We want to lend our support for music events that are suitable for all ages.

MUSIC AND SOCIETY

We will make every endeavour to ensure that the Finnish music scene and music culture in Finland remains diverse.

• We are committed to promoting equality and diversity in all that we do.
• We will not tolerate any inappropriate actions or behaviour.
• We want to ensure that all professionals working within music
  can do so safely and securely.
• We want to ensure that all professionals working within the Finnish music sector have access to social security benefits
  regardless of their employment status or tenure.
• We want to establish professional choirs.
• We want to facilitate the creation of a network of cross-genre music clubs.

FAIR REMUNERATION

Highly-trained professionals play a vital role in creating and maintaining a diverse and thriving music sector.  These professionals will need to be remunerated accordingly for their contribution.

• We will work to ensure that the work of composers, performers and other professionals is more prominently credited
  by streaming services.
• We undertake to develop the state funding system to ensure
  appropriate funding arrangements for Finnish orchestras, theatres
  and choirs to allow them to pursue their work on a long-term, strategic basis.
• We will work closely with the freelance and coordinating sectors
  to ensure adequate funding and other resources.
• We are committed to driving the reform of the private copying levy
  and to ensuring that it is administered as a long-term cultural subsidy.
• With regard to streaming services, we support the transition to a user centric
  payment model, which is better equipped to meet the needs of more
  marginal and local music makers.

Ringfence 1% of the Finnish budget for arts and culture.

Enhance the role of experts in political decision-making through broad-ranging engagement with stakeholders.