Culture and communications

Culture and art

The visual arts, literature, music and the performing arts together with leisure activities and civic activities all enrich life. Culture is created both by those who engage in art for fun and by professionals. Cultural activities can be enjoyed at different kinds of events, concerts, art exhibitions and in libraries.

Museums

Museum collections contain art and a wide variety of objects and articles from everyday life. Visitors to museums can become more familiar with Finnish history, art and nature. In addition to their collections, museums also display the research that they carry out.

Archives

Archives are responsible for preserving the Finnish cultural heritage. In Finland, archiving is managed by the National Archives of Finland, the Provincial Archives of Finland together with different public sector and private archives in their own specialist areas. The collections contained in the archives are used, for example, in research.

Religions and ethics

Everyone has the right to practice the religion of their choice or to be unaffiliated with any religious group. The Evangelical Lutheran Church and the Orthodox Church have a special position in Finland, which allows them to collect church tax, for instance. Pupils are given instruction in their own religion or in ethics at comprehensive school and upper secondary school.

Civic organisations and interest groups

Civic and special interest organisations play an important role in Finnish society. Associations include, political parties, labour market organisations and sports and leisure societies. Communities and private individuals can set up associations. Associations can only produce a profit to the extent that they can continue to operate.

Media

The Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech, which includes the right to freely express, publish and receive information, opinions and messages. Different media follow the events taking place in society and communicate them to their audiences. The Council for Mass Media in Finland is the self-regulating body for the communications sector that sets out good journalistic practice and defends the freedom of speech and the freedom to publish.

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