Mariehamn, Åland Islands, Finland
Impact Report | March 2025
Local lead contact:
Mathilda Nordberg, Cultural Lead for Mariehamn
General update
After receiving the report, they contacted the Cultural Department of the Government of Åland and shared the report with them. The report was also shared with youth organizations, stakeholders interviewed during the research, and the youth music scene.
In Mariehamn, the usual event programs are ongoing, and discussions are happening about whether bigger projects can be done, with concerns about time constraints due to the cultural team having only two people.
The city of Mariehamn recently conducted a survey to increase the visibility and support of the cultural department for the local community, including improving social media and adjusting office hours for drop-ins and appointments.
Efforts continue to pay artists at least minimum wage, but professionalization remains a challenge.
Citizens need to better understand the difference between Mariehamn's cultural department and the broader cultural department for the Åland Islands.
Professionalization of music is a cultural shift with challenges, including lack of understanding about the need for artists to be remunerated.
There is a need to be more accessible to local people, and work is ongoing in this area. There are many ‘happy amateurs’ on the Åland Islands, but there is a need to professionalize this sector.
Overall, the challenges remain being a very small and seasonal community – seasonal inactivity (nothing happening in summer or winter) causes difficulty for artists to stay on the island without paid work.
Specific impact from MPRN
The report has been used to open conversations and provide support. The government was conducting a report on the cultural environment for people working in the Åland Islands, and they commented that this report complements their work.
The report contains valuable resources which have directly influenced planning, such as an international best practice case study from the Faroe Islands.
Matilda had a meeting with the Cultural Department to discuss the report and its contents.
New work is underway focused on artistic outreach and bringing live artistic performances into schools.
There are many ‘happy amateurs’ on the Aland Islands, but there is a need to professionalize this sector.
A new organization has advocated for government resources to provide training, development courses, and upskilling for artists to become more professional.
Ongoing engagement with MPRN:
Positive about staying in the network and wants to kept in the loop about masterclasses.