Taike's Transparency: A Call for Actions

Dear Fellow Artists, Cultural Operators, and Organizations,

I write to you today with a matter of utmost urgency that demands our collective attention and action. Recently, two decisions (case 5120/2022 number 797/2024 and case 5121/2022 number 797/2024) from the Administrative Court of Helsinki have overturned rulings made by Taike - Arts Promotion Centre Finland (two negative decision of my personal applications of 2022). These decisions were deemed unjustified according to Finnish law, highlighting a concerning trend that jeopardizes the integrity of our artistic and cultural landscape.

We, as an art and culture organization in Finland, recognize the pivotal role our sector plays in shaping society, fostering creativity, and promoting cultural exchange. However, when decisions are made that undermine the very essence of our work and the principles of fairness and justice, we cannot afford to remain silent.

In addition to the fundamental issue of unjust rulings, Taike is obligated to pay 100 euros to me for each decision overturned by the Administrative Court of Helsinki. Considering that Taike copy-pastes all the negative decisions and sends them to the applicant artists and cultural operators, and if these applicant artists and cultural operators appeal these negative decisions to the Court as I did, Taike could incur a significant overall financial cost. Unfortunately, these possible costs are ultimately borne by taxpayers. Such misuse of public funds due to negligence and incompetence within the administration of Taike is unacceptable.

I do not know if Taike will change its operations and apply another more transparent and open system of evaluation. From my experience with public institutions, I have some doubts and would like to be prepared for further action. For this, I am asking for everyone’s help in terms of legal approach (it is vital to understand and build future actions on the details of the Court decisions to make a change in law and public institutions' procedures), communication (you as active artists and cultural operators and your institutions have more possibilities than ours), and dissemination initiatives (together we can have a wider impact via your channels, your contacts of newspapers, TVs, etc.) With your help, we would like for everyone in the future to receive from Taike the justification for why their proposals were not selected (transparency and openness!!!). This will ameliorate the applicants' understanding of the evaluation process (overcome the metaphysics of bureaucracy!!!), will make them understand better how to write their proposals (disclosure of knowledge and information of the overwhelming "managerialism"!!!), and will enhance the transparency of decision-making in general, being Taike the field's most important public institution and a reference for funding art and culture in Finland (I have not seen a single institution in Finland that opens up and makes transparent the decision-making process while giving funds, which may hide the well-known art-washing!!!).

It is imperative that we unite in solidarity to address this multifaceted issue and advocate for the protection of our rights as artists and cultural operators. We must demand transparency, accountability, and adherence to the law in all decision-making processes within the arts sector.

Therefore, I urge each one of you to join hands in this critical moment.

If, at the moment, you do not have ideas and cannot help, here's how you can start:

• Spread Awareness: Share this message within your networks and emphasize the financial and ethical implications of Taike's decisions. Encourage others to take action and raise their voices against injustice.
• Engage in Dialogue: Initiate discussions within your respective organizations and communities about the broader implications of these issues. Foster an environment where concerns can be openly addressed, and solutions can be collaboratively developed.
  Reach Out to Authorities: Write to relevant authorities, including Taike and Ministry of Culture responsible for overseeing cultural affairs, expressing your concerns and demanding accountability for the misuse of public funds.
• Support Affected Parties: Extend your support to individuals or organizations directly impacted by unjust decisions and financial burdens imposed by Taike. Stand in solidarity with those facing injustice and provide assistance however possible.
• Stay Informed and Vigilant: Remain vigilant about developments in this matter and stay informed about your rights as artists and cultural operators. Knowledge empowers us to advocate more effectively for our collective interests.
• Our strength lies in our unity and our unwavering commitment to upholding the values of justice, equality, and creativity. Let us rise to the occasion and ensure that the arts and culture sector in Finland remains a beacon of integrity and inspiration for generations to come.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Together, we can make a difference.

Sincerely,

Romeo Kodra – ALabApArt
Co-founder and Executive Director