New working paper examines the landscape of basic arts education providers ahead of legislative reform

Cupore has published a working paper entitled Basic Arts Education at a Turning Point: Providers and Operating Conditions in Espoo, Helsinki and Vantaa Ahead of Legislative Reform.

The working paper examines the landscape of basic arts education providers ahead of the forthcoming legislative reform. The study is based on a survey conducted in spring 2026, which received responses from 69 of the 70 providers in the region.

The paper describes the structure of the provider landscape, accessibility, funding and cooperation, and explores providers’ views on future developments.

The network of basic arts education providers in the region comprises a diverse range of organisations. Almost all providers are run by private operators, and more than half operate with municipal authorisation without receiving central government transfers to local governments for statutory duties (state funding). Providers vary in size, funding and operating conditions, meaning they face the legislative reform from different starting points.

The working paper was commissioned by the cities of Espoo, Helsinki and Vantaa. The data collected in spring 2026 provide the cities with information to support decision-making on the state of the provider landscape ahead of the legislative reform. They also establish a baseline against which future developments can be assessed.

Read the English summary of the report: Basic Arts Education at a Turning Point: Providers and Operating Conditions in Espoo, Helsinki and Vantaa Ahead of Legislative Reform

For further information:

Anna Kanerva
Senior Researcher, Project Lead
+358 50 302 1414
anna.kanerva@cupore.fi