Potential mergers of the Finnish Artists’ Association and its affiliated unions spark discussions around funding, power, and the position of artists. Lessons from the past provide valuable insights into how such mergers can impact the structures of the field and artists’ agency.
Experiences from previous merger initiatives show that practical realism is crucial. Concrete examples, such as the Kuvataiteen talo project, illustrate how quickly human and financial resources can be consumed without achieving the intended goals. This concern extends beyond finances to transparency in power and decision-making, meaning who can influence decisions and who has the right to participate.
Parallel associations or poorly planned structures can have harmful effects on the entire operation. When preparing merger initiatives, it is essential to understand these practical risks so that future national structures do not repeat past mistakes.
The role of artists is central: before large-scale mergers, it is beneficial to open up existing structures and examine their operations transparently. This allows a merger to occur in a way that supports the position of artists, maintains operational openness, and strengthens sustainable development in the field.
The past offers valuable lessons. It reminds us that merger initiatives are not merely about combining organizations, but also about ensuring artists retain their ability to influence and maintain the freedom to create art on their own terms. This remains a fundamental question for the development of the field and the preservation of artistic freedom.