Music and architecture are arguably Finland's highest art forms that are recognised abroad.

Topical Jätkäsaari - for urban living, it looks bound to be superb » Read more

Top Story

Cinema in Finland Busy, but still seeking stature while Kaurismäki, canonised, leads the field » Read more

Culture Gallery

Culture Gallery: a showcase of Finnish art and design - alive, original, radical. See the difference!

Architecture

Maison Carré: Fine Finnish architecture in the heart of France » Read more

Century of Finnish architecture Architecture in the 1990s Alvar Aalto – designer Alvar Aalto – an appreciation Alvar Aalto speaks Studio Aalto The Seinäjoki Aalto Centre Fresh focus on Aalto's architecture in Barbican exhibition Finnish women architects Helsinki's senate square Jätkäsaari – city life for the new millennium? Heritage of timber construction Petäjävesi old church Medieval castles Viipuri Library: 70th Anniversary in 2005 Related sites: Museum of Finnish architecture The Alvar Aalto museum The Finnish Architectural review Association of Finnish Architects

Design

The Story of Finnish Design Timeless good taste, functionality and finesse without frills » Read more

Designed by Timo Sarpaneva Light Fantastic The Democracy of Design Home Sweet Home: The Finnish interior design boom Marimekko's classy comeback Finnish with Style The Resurrection of Finnish Fashion Turning trash into treasures Related sites: Finnish design

Music

Music in a nutshell No nutshell is big enough for Sibelius and his successors so... » Read more

Finnish Opera Savonlinna Opera Festival Sibelius; Finland's voice in the world Ainola; home of Jean Sibelius Jean Sibelius speaks Finlandia by Jean Sibelius Piae Cantiones – A Finnish Treasure of Medieval Songs Ondine – no compromise over quality Gramophone Award winner Soile Isokoski records Mozart arias Ondine Records – the first twenty years Ondine Records and The Philadelphia Orchestra in exciting new partnership Ondine Wins Classical Disc of the Year Award Related sites: Finnish Music Information Centre Finnish National Opera Savonlinna Opera festival Finland Festivals Sibelius Academy Association of Finnish symphony orchestras The Finnish Music Quarterly - FMQ

Rock and jazz music

Finland’s surprise Eurovision Song Contest: win by masked monster band Lordi rocks the nation » Read more

Folk, jazz and rock music The Sweet New Sounds of Finnish Pop and Rock Music The Prophets of Finnish Rap Amoc is rapping the Sámi language onto the map Related sites: Musex – music export finland

Folk music

Historical recordings by master folk musicians As you'd expect, Finnish rustic music reflects influences from east and west » Read more

Folk singing Kantele – The Finnish National Instrument The Kalevala Heritage Four men with harmonicas: how Sväng is helping to put Finland on the world music market

Literature

Finnish Literature Today Whilst still little known outside, at home Finnish lit. is vigorous and robust » Read more

The Moomin World and its creator Celebrating their 60th anniversary, these beloved creatures remain as popular as ever » Read more

The Birth of Finnish literature Kalevala – The Finnish National Epic Kalevala – from myth to symbol Kanteletar Finnish Books for Children and Young People Mauri Kunnas' lovable, instructive canine characters Related sites: Finnish Literature Information Centre The National Library of Finland

Poetry

Edith Södergran's fame is spreading Thanks to skilful translations from her native Swedish » Read more

Finnish Land – poem by Aleksis Kivi Related sites: Finnish Literature Information Centre Electric Verses by members of Living Poet's Society of Finland

Theatre

Finnish Theatre Alongside music, arguably Finland's most accomplished and popular art form » Read more

Related sites: Finnish Theatre Information Centre

Dance

Ballet and dance Finnish contemporary dance has broken the shackles of nationality and speaks to the world » Read more

Folk dancing Related sites: Finnish Dance Information Centre

Cinema

Finnish cinema today Solitary Man Related sites: Finnish Film Foundation The Finnish Film Archive Finnish Board of Film Classification Midnight Sun Film Festival

Fine art

Finnish Contemporary art Abstract art first hit the front in the 1960s, paving the way for art movements during the rest of the century » Read more

Finnish Women Artists Visual arts and the Internet Related sites: Finnish National Gallery University of Art and Design Helsinki Artists' Association of Finland FRAME – Finnish Fund for Art Exchange

Cartoonists

Kari Suomalainen – the Legendary Finnish Cartoonist His world view brightened Finnish breakfast tables for half a century » Read more

Erkki Tanttu – a Finnish Master Draughtsman Related sites: The Finnish Comics' Society

Ministries, institutes and museums

Related sites: Ministry of Education Kulttuuri.net – a Gateway to Finnish Culture on the Net Finnish National Gallery National Board of Antiquities Finnish Museums Finland Festivals

Featured Sites

FILI – Finnish Literature Information Centre

Finnish Music Information Centre

Finnish Dance Information Centre

Finnish Theatre Information Centre

Musex - Music Export Finland

FRAME - Finnish Fund for Art Exchange

Fashion Finland

Cirko – Centre for New Circus

The Finnish Museum of Photography