Production platform

COMMUNITY AND STRUCTURE FOR INDEPENDENT ARTISTS

Mission

Platform strengthens the autonomous agency of artists, and supports self-direction.

aims to provide hope
aims to better the working conditions of artists
aims to change the models of operation and thinking in our field
does not provide ‘turn-key solutions’, but shares competencies
makes the production work of art transparent

Arts Management Helsinki strives for a fair and equal working life for artists. It functions as a joint platform for about forty independent artists: a working community and support structure that makes the lives of artists a little bit more secure and supported.

The activities of the production platform for independent artists is divided into three areas: personal services for artists, pre-production work, and community activities.

This production platform is a constantly evolving, trailblazing organisation in the performing arts. It is financially supported by the Arts Promotion Center of Finland (Taike) and the City of Helsinki.

Member Artists 2025 (in alphabetical order):

Teea Aarnio, Hanna Ahti, Lin Da, Samira Elagoz, Samee Haapa, Salla Hakanpää, Leena Harjunpää, Elina Hauta-aho, Elsa Heikkilä, Maija Hirvanen, Anna Maria Häkkinen, Maija Ijäs, Elli Isokoski, Sonja Jokiniemi, Tiia Kasurinen, Essi Kausalainen, Heli Keskikallio, Annamari Keskinen, Jenni Kivelä, Anna Korolainen Crevier, Wilma-Emilia Kuosa, Laura Lehtinen, Mimosa Lindahl, Heidi Masalin, Taina Mäki-Iso, Kaisa Nieminen, Maija Nurmio, Wilhelmina Ojanen, Meri Pajunpää, Sari Palmgren, Ninni Perko, Marika Peura, Elina Pirinen, Janina Rajakangas, Jani-Matti Salo, Kardo Shiwan, Jaakko Simola, Esete Sutinen, Virva Talonen, Favela Vera Ortiz, Marjaterttu Willman

Arts Management Helsinki cannot take in new member artists at this time.

Personal services

infrastructure for artists’ work
personal, tailored advice and help at different stages of the career

The production platform can function as a judicial structure in co-productions, touring contracts, project financing etc. It operates as the responsible employer for freelancers, thus providing social security for artists. The production platform offers working life services for artists, including advice and work guidance, coaching, and mentoring. Artists can also use occupational health care services that are normally not available for freelancers or independent workers.

Pre-production

support for non-artistic work of artists
help at the pre-production stages of projects, e.g. production planning, communications, strategy, negotiations, preliminary production

The work of artists is not limited to actual artistic work, but it also includes a lot of invisible, unpaid, non-artistic work: creating and arranging the circumstances of artistic work, finding resources, applying for funding, preparing. The production platform makes this invisible work visible, and provides help and support for it.

Pre-production work is carried out by the staff, outside experts, and/or the member artists themselves, depending on the need.

Community activities

working community and support network of freelance artists
validation, reinforcement, sense of belonging

The production platform is a work community and peer network for its member artists. Interaction is enhanced through shared events and learning opportunities. Events include facilitated discussions, lectures, sharing sessions, and office brunches.

All events comply with the principles of safer space at Arts Management Helsinki.

ARTICLES AND COMMENTARIES