Left-wing art scene in Finland punishes right-wing artists
Interesting article in yesterday’s Helsingin Sanomat about the leftist-dominated art scene in Finland. Right-wing artists in Finland are afraid to voice their political opinions for fear of backlash from the community. One artist in the article was too afraid to even use his real name.
“It would be a suicide by self-immolation”, says the startled author on the other end of the phone line. I had called to ask if he would like to speak publicly about his own political convictions as an artist of the political right.
The answer is a resounding no. According to the writer, coming out as a right-winger on Finland’s left-dominated art scene would mean an end to grants, leading to economic problems. Boards and panels would not look kindly on such a move.
Grants? Who gives out grants? Officials, funded by the welfare state? Well, maybe if they’re ideologically against all these grants, they shouldn’t complain about not receiving them. On the other hand, the welfare state makes Finns are the poorest people in Western Europe, they really don’t have the kind of money to be spending on expensive pieces of artwork. They need those wealthy right-wing capitalist pigs to buy their work.
A shame that arts funding is dictated by political ideology like this. In the free market, an artists funding comes from their own talent and success.




