Composition concert grants
The Society of Finnish Composers awards composition concert grants to a maximum of EUR 2,000 each for concerts organised by freelancers. For a large project, such as a chamber opera, a grant of up to EUR 3,000 is available.
The next application period is from 1 to 31 August 2025.
Submit your application on the online form that will become available when the application period begins.
Which concerts are eligible for the grants?
These grants are awarded to profile concerts featuring the work of living composers who are Finnish or permanently resident in Finland. The grants are principally intended for concerts and other performances (e.g. chamber opera, major church music work) that mainly showcase the work of one composer.
Concerts featuring two composers are eligible, but the maximum grant is in any case EUR 2,000 per concert (or EUR 3,000 for a large project).
The concert must be organised with the consent of the composer, and the composer must be involved in the planning and/or production of the concert.
The concert should basically include other performers besides the composer themself. However, solo recitals of a composer performing their own works are also eligible. Please note that a concert consisting entirely of improvisation is not eligible for a grant.
The concert may have free admission, or tickets may be sold. The composition concert grant is intended as a loss guarantee, and thus the estimated costs and revenue of the concert must be itemised on the application.
The concert may be held in Finland and abroad. You may apply for a grant after the fact for a concert, provided that it was held after the previous application period.
A grant may be awarded for a postgraduate recital or similar concert of a composer’s compositions, although it is desirable that the educational institution in question would cover the costs of such concerts.
In which cases will a grant not be awarded?
A composition concert grant will not be awarded if the project is receiving support from the Society in some other form (e.g. a festival grant).
Moratorium
Any individual composer may be awarded a composition concert grant for a profile concert no more than once every three years, calculated from the year in which the concert takes place. After the calendar year in which a grant is paid out, the same composer will not be eligible for another such grant in the following two calendar years. However, a composer may apply for a grant for a concert that will be held after the moratorium expires.
In the case of a grant awarded for a concert featuring two composers, the moratorium will apply to the composer whose works occupy the largest percentage of the programme.
Who can apply?
Composition concert grants are principally intended for concerts organised by freelance composers, but concerts organised by various institutions may be considered on a discretionary basis.
The applicant may be
- a composer
- a concert producer or organiser
- a working group
- an individual musician
- an ensemble, including the composer’s own ensemble
Professional composers of art music who are not members of the Society of Finnish Composers may also apply for these grants.
Which costs are eligible?
- performer and producer fees, including ancillary costs (but not composition fees or any fee for the composer as a performer or a producer)
- venue hire
- performers’ travel costs
- publicity and marketing
- programme booklet
- tech such as sound and lighting systems
We encourage applicants to commit to the compensation practices and terms and conditions of agreement outlined in the Fair Art Manifesto.
Application
Submit your application on the online form that will become available when the application period begins. The following information is required:
- your contact details
- a description of the concert, including place, time, programme (works, when they were composed and when they were premiered), duration and performers
- cost and revenue estimate for the concert, including information on any grants or support applied for and received from other sources (attachment)
Applicants who are not members of the Society of Finnish Composers are also requested to append:
- your CV
- an extract from any score of your work
- a recording of a sample of your music
Publicity and marketing
The office of the Society of Finnish Composers may publicise composition concerts in its communication channels (e.g. member newsletters and social media). Concert details and freely distributable images may be submitted to saveltajat@composers.fi for publicity, no later than two weeks before the concert.
If awarded a composition concert grant, please indicate in the publicity and marketing for the concert that the Society of Finnish Composers has awarded a composition concert grant to the concert. The logo of the Society of Finnish Composers, which can be downloaded in a variety of versions and file formats from our materials database, can be used in publicity materials.
Basically, members of the Society must be offered free admission to composition concerts supported by the Society. Please contact the office well ahead of time so that we can inform members.
Paying out the grants
Grants are paid out after the fact, on the basis of a report you submit. The concert must be reported to the relevant copyright organisation (Teosto in Finland, or the relevant organisation in the country where the concert is held) before the grant can be paid out.
Decisions
Discretionary grants are awarded by a committee appointed for this purpose. Applicants are informed of the decisions in person.
Grants are awarded out of funds accrued from the collective copyright royalties paid by Kopiosto to the Society.
Further information
Society of Finnish Composers, office, tel. +358 9 445 589, saveltajat@composers.fi