Oulu Culture Foundation
The Oulu Culture Foundation is responsible for the activities of Oulu2026. The foundation develops Oulu as a city of culture and events and promotes the preconditions for artists and the cultural sector, and participates in activities that develop the cultural sector nationally and internationally.
About the Foundation
“The Capital of Culture is a great development opportunity for the city, its residents and operators in different sectors. It gives the opportunity to do big things and gives permission to do things differently – it also takes courage”
– Risto Ruohonen, Chairman of the Board
The Oulu Culture Foundation is responsible for the Oulu2026 activities. The Foundation promotes its purpose by providing grants and aid, organising events and carrying out information, publication, research and project activities.
The Foundation is a subsidiary of the City of Oulu, making it close to city organisations. The Foundation was founded in 2021 and its CEO is Piia Rantala-Korhonen.
Administration and finance
The Board leads the Foundation’s operations and supports operative management in achieving the Foundation’s objectives. The Oulu2026 delegation acts as the Board’s advisory body and its members consist of representatives of the City of Oulu, 39 municipalities and key stakeholders. Risto Ruohonen is the Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
The City of Oulu and the Foundation’s management hold annual ownership steering discussions on the implementation of the strategic goals set by the City of Oulu.
The total budget of the project is EUR 50 million, of which EUR 20 million comes from the City of Oulu, EUR 20 million from the Ministry of Education and Culture (Government Decision of 27 February 2022) and EUR 10 million from the Foundation itself, for example, through corporate cooperation and projects.
The Foundation’s internal financing is based on funding from the City of Oulu and the state, but 20% of the revenue from operations consists of the partner municipalities’ own financial contributions to the programme implemented in their area, project funding and funding received from private foundations and through corporate cooperation.
Monitoring and evaluation
The strategic research partner of the Oulu Culture Foundation is Cupore, Centre for Cultural Policy Research, which is responsible for Oulu2026 research and evaluation in 2022–2027.
A multidisciplinary research group monitors and evaluates the Oulu2026 cultural year and its long-term impacts in the Oulu2026 region. The research results are open to everyone and are actively shared with both international researchers and research institutions in order to make the most of the information.
Monitoring reports
First Monitoring report by the ECOC Expert Panel 2022
This report follows the virtual meeting on 14 September 2022 between the Expert Panel for the selection and monitoring of European Capitals of Culture and the ECoC2026 team for Oulu (Finland), one of the two selected European Capitals of Culture for 2026.
Second Monitoring report by the ECOC Expert Panel 2024
This report follows the virtual meeting on 25 June 2024 between the expert panel for the selection and monitoring of the European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) and the ECoC2026 team for Oulu (Finland), one of the two selected European Capitals of Culture for 2026.