The Arts and Culture Agency Kuvi has published the recipients of the 2026 regional grants in North Savo. A total of €130,000 was awarded, with 19 artists or working groups receiving support. Altogether, 99 applications were submitted. The grants are awarded by Kuvi, and the recipients were selected for the final time by the North Savo Arts Council. In future, the decisions will be made centrally in Helsinki.
The grants are intended for artistic work and expenses arising from artistic activities.
The largest individual grant was awarded to Outi Markkula from Kuopio, who received €11,250 for five months of artistic work in multidisciplinary art. In visual arts, Maiju Ruuskanen from Kuopio received €10,000 for four months of artistic work and expenses. In circus arts, Maiski Tiainen from Kuopio received €9,500 for the artistic work and expenses of a four-person working group.
The other grant recipients in North Savo are:
- Nataliia Deineka, Kuopio, literature, €6,750
- Petteri Holm, Kuopio, comics and illustration, €2,500
- Antti Immonen (working group), Varkaus, multidisciplinary art, €9,000
- Sampo Jaakkola, Kuopio, film art, €6,750
- Katarina Karppinen, Leppävirta, media art, €6,750
- Jenni Kemppainen, Kuopio, design, €6,750
- Sami Korkiakoski, Siilinjärvi, visual arts, €6,750
- Solja Krapu-Kallio, Kuopio, literature, €2,500
- Anna Maria McElwain, Kuopio, music, €6,750
- Tiina Naumanen-Salmela (working group), Kuopio, multidisciplinary art, €6,750
- Janne Ojajärvi, Suonenjoki, music, €4,500
- Kirsi Pehkonen, Kuopio, literature, €6,750
- Moona Penttinen (working group), Jyväskylä, dance art, €5,500
- Kerttu-Liisa Pirinen (working group), Kuopio, theatre art, €5,500
- Timo Tolonen, Iisalmi, visual arts, €9,000
- Reijo Valta, Kuopio, art journalism, €6,750