Apply for expense grants in September
Who is it for?
The expense grants are aimed at professional illustrators, including part-time illustrators. The membership of Kuvittajat ry is not required, but since the grants are funded by remunerations collected by Kopiosto, we hope that you would give the Grant of Rights to Kuvittajat ry. The Kopiosto Grant of Rights will be given in Kopiosto’s online authorization service. If you’re not able to give the grants of rights online, you can contact the office at info@kuvittajat.fi. If you have already given the Grant of Rights to Kuvittajat ry, please note that there have been updates to it that you can accept in the authorization service with bank credentials.
If you are not a full member of Kuvittajat ry, please attach an up-to-date CV and a portfolio that clearly shows you meet the professional criteria. The criteria is the same as for full membership.
When to apply?
The application period is September 1-30, 2025. The application closes at 23.59 pm. The applications will be processed by a jury appointed by the board of Kuvittajat ry. After this the decisions will be published on the association’s website. The usage period of the grant starts when the illustrator has been informed about the decision. Grants must be used and reported by September 1, 2026. Grant decisions are not justified, and they cannot be appealed.
What is it?
Kuvittajat ry expense grants are intended to cover professional purchases, studio expenses, and travel, training, and exhibition expenses. Expenses must not have been incurred yet; the grant period begins on the date of the grant decision. Grants are awarded to one person at a time, with a maximum value of €500. The amount varies annually depending on the number of applicants and may also be awarded at a lower amount than requested. Grants awarded must be used and reported by September 1, 2026.
You can only apply for expense grant in one category per year, and you cannot change categories by requesting a change of use declaration.
Travel grants for international fairs
This autumn there is a separate side call to promote internationalization of the illustration field.
You can apply for a grant to attend fairs that would best promote your international career, such as the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, the Pictoplasma Festival, or the Brand Licensing Fair in London. Justify the benefits of participation in the fair and your preliminary goals or plans for the fair in your application.
The maximum grant amount is €500. When traveling by land, it is also possible to apply for a climate allowance, which raises the maximum amount to €600. In addition to flight or train expenses, the grant can be used to cover accommodation and fair tickets; local transport tickets or other living expenses cannot be covered by the grant.
Funding for other travel can be applied for through the basic expense grant application. The side call is separate from the main call, meaning that grants can be applied for from both in the same year. A maximum of 9000 euros has been budgeted for the international fair grants.
Christmas Market grants
Kuvittajat ry supports professional illustrators to participate in various Christmas markets. Applicants are free to choose an event that suits them and receive a grant maximum of 100 euros to participate. The amount of the grant is based on the number of applicants.
The Christmas market grant can only be used to fund the rental of a table space. The grant is paid to individuals, but it can also be used to fund participation on behalf of a company.
Categories of expenses are:
Travel grants will be admitted to a travel for domestic and international residencies and excursions, as well as domestic fairs. Residence applications that are in the process phase, will not be admitted travel grant. Travel grant will not be admitted as daily allowance or kilometer allowance. Travel grants for international fairs can be applied for in a side call. If traveling by land outside the Nordic and Baltic countries, an extra 100 euro grant can be admitted, as a climate compensation, so travel grant can be applied up to 600 euros in total. Kuvittajat ry recommends the compensation of emissions from air travel.
Education grants will be admitted to professional additional education, including online courses. Education grants will not be admitted to basic level studies.
Exhibition grants will be admitted to illustration exhibitions only. Exhibitions that are in the application process will not be admitted for a grant.
Working space grants will be admitted to cover the rent or ownership expenses.
Purchase grants will be admitted to cover professional expenses such as devices or material purchases. Computers, tablets, printers, and other electronics are typical items to apply for, as well as different kinds of software (Adobe, etc.). Electric desks and work chairs, storage drawers for illustrations and other office work related accessories are also accepted professional purchases. Grants for illustrator’s traditional illustrator supplies, such as pens, paints and papers or graphic arts supplies and professional literature will also be admitted. In your application, explain how the purchase is related to your work as an illustrator.
What attachments do I need to send?
For travel grants accommodation and traveling estimates of costs must be included in the application, and receipts must be presented in the grant report. When applying for exhibition or working space grants, please attach a rental contract or other calculation in the application. When applying for a purchase grant, attach a link to the product you are purchasing. If you are buying multiple items like pens and brushes, include a calculation for those products.
If you are not a full member of Kuvittajat ry, please attach an up-to-date CV and a portfolio that clearly shows you meet the professional criteria. The criteria is the same as for full membership.
How to apply?
Kuvittajat ry uses an electric grant system that requires registration before creating an application. If needed, ask for technical support through the grant system by sending a message. You can fill out the application in Finnish, English or Swedish.
More information and support
Explore frequently asked questions about the expense grants.
If you have any problems with filling in the application or with the accessibility of the application form, please contact: Organization coordinator Emilia Alm, emilia.alm@kuvittajat.fi
