kulttuuriministeriön

Kulttuuriministeriö, officially Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö (OKM), is a Finnish government ministry responsible for education and culture policy. It operates as part of the Finnish Government and is headed by the Minister of Education and Culture. The ministry drafts policy, prepares legislation, coordinates national programs, and manages state funding to education and culture.

Its remit covers basic and secondary education, vocational education and training, higher education (universities and universities of applied sciences), and science policy. In culture policy, it oversees arts, literature, music, theatre, film and media, libraries, museums, cultural heritage preservation, and language initiatives. It administers grants and subsidies to cultural institutions, universities and research projects, and supports international cultural cooperation.

Organization-wise, the ministry consists of the minister’s office and several directorates that implement policy and manage budgets. It collaborates with other ministries, municipalities, higher education institutions, and cultural organizations to carry out national programs and strategies. The OKM represents Finland in international forums related to education and culture and coordinates national efforts to promote equality, accessibility, and lifelong learning within its sectors.

In Finnish usage, kulttuuriministeriön is the genitive form used to indicate possession, such as kulttuuriministeriön päätökset (the ministry’s decisions). The term commonly refers to the government body responsible for both education and culture within the Finnish administrative system.