Grants

The Foundation annually awards four (4) grants to support artistic work, research, and the writing of scholarly articles. This year, particular emphasis in the grant applications is placed on the visual arts.

The designated theme for the grants in 2025–2026 is “The Line”. Within the tradition of visual art, the line is one of its most fundamental elements. It is linked to drawing, but also plays a crucial role in composition and image construction across various artistic media.

Kimmo Kaivanto (1932–2012) was renowned as a multidisciplinary visual artist—painter, sculptor and graphic artist. The line formed the basis of his drawings, but also appeared as a conceptual element in his sculptural work. In one of his most well-known series, the line extends from the Blue Straight at Tampere Hall to Helsinki Central Railway Station, where it meets with the Blue Line. In many of Kaivanto’s works, the horizon line and its disappearance also played a dominant role in the composition.

The line may be explored as a technical mark, an experiential phenomenon, or a philosophical concept. The mode of execution is open and unrestricted in terms of materials. The standard grant amount is 2 000 euros, though this may vary. The Foundation’s Board of Directors will make the final decisions based on the submitted applications.

Applications must be submitted by 30 November 2025 to the address: apurahat(at)kimmokaivantofoundation.fi. The application may be no longer than one page (2,500 characters including spaces), with a maximum of two pages of attachments. Please include a summary of approximately 600 characters. The Board will announce the grant recipients by the end of December.

All applicants will be notified of the results via the email address provided in the application.

The Foundation reserves the right to request a report on the use of the grant and the realization of the proposed project.