Vappu Renko

Senior Researcher, DSocSci, MSSc, MA

Contact information

Presentation

I have worked as a researcher at Cupore since October 2017. My current research focuses on local and regional cultural policies as well as arts and artist policies in Finland. I am especially interested in Nordic comparative studies.

I hold a doctoral degree in social and public policy from University of Jyväskylä and master’s degrees in political science (University of Turku) and art history (University of Helsinki). My dissertation focuses on the possibilities of reginal cultural policy in Finland contrasted to Sweden.

Before Cupore, I have worked as a researcher at University of Jyväskylä and in administrative and coordination roles in various cultural organisations.

I am a co-editor of the Finnish Cultural Policy Research Yearbook (since 2023) and the chair of the steering group of Kulturanalys Norden (2022–24).

Research projects
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- 2024 — 2025 (ongoing research) Art and artists
  Infrastructure as a Success Factor in the Visual Arts
  
  The research on art and art policy aspects has shown that the infrastructure for artistic work within the visual arts is significantly weaker than in many other art fields. This is also reflected in the working conditions of professional artists. Total income for professionals in the visual arts is lower, and job well-being is worse than in many other art sectors. To ensure that the sector remains viable and that consumers can continue to access the services of the visual arts, the sectors infrastructures must be developed sustainably, taking into account the needs of professional artists. The development project "Infrastructure as a Success Factor in the Visual Arts" addresses this developmental need. Success here refers to enabling professional artists to work and grow in their profession in the long term.
- 2022 — 2024 (ongoing research) Municipalities and regions
  Regional art museums and their operations related to municipal cultural activities
  
  In 2022–2024, Center for Cultural Policy Research Cupore is carrying out a regional development task assigned by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture. The task focuses on regional arts museums and their operations related to municipal cultural activities and interaction with professional artists and amateurs.
- 2020 (ongoing research) Art and artists
  As an artist in Finland
  
  As an artist in Finland is a continuous research project on the situation and societal status of professional artists working in Finland. Cupore collaborates in the research with Arts Promotion Centre Finland, the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and Statistics Finland. In addition, various stages of the researchers are collaborating with artists' associations, grant-making foundations and copyright organizations.
- 2018 — 2027 (ongoing research) Production and events
  Oulu2026 evaluation research
  
  Oulu will be European Capital of Culture in 2026 along with 39 other municipalities from Northern Finland. Oulu2026 is a long-term, culture-based urban development project, the aim of which is cultural climate change. The purpose of the project of the Oulu2026 project is to create and bring culture, wellbeing, and vitality to our Northern region.
- 2016 (ongoing research) Municipalities and regions
  Evaluation on Basic Public Services
- 2022 — 2023 Art and artists
  VISMA
- 2020 Production and events
  Research on the Impacts and Meanings of Finland 100
- 2018 — 2020 Evaluation and development
  Mapping and evaluation of the operation of the information centres for the arts in Finland
- 2008 — 2018 Municipalities and regions
  Data collection on local government cultural provisions
Cupore's publications
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- Cupore's publications 2024 Towards Oulu2026 - European Capital of Culture
- Cupore's publications 2024 Challenging the Nordic model?
- Cupore's publications 2023 As an artist in Finland: Professional artists in Finland in 2019
- Cupore's publications 2020 City Development and Cultural Policy
- Cupore's publications 2020 The Operations and Significance of Arts Information Centers
- Cupore's publications 2018 Culture and cross-sectoral cooperation
- Cupore's publications 2018 Culture and city development
Other publications
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Peer-reviewed scientific articles

Jakonen, O., Renko, V. & Harding, T. (2024). Challenging the Nordic model? The cultural policies of populist parties in Finland and Sweden. International Journal of Cultural Policy (online 16 Feb 2024) https://doi.org/10.1080/10286632.2024.2313520

Renko, V. (2022): Making regional cultural policy: regional government bodies’ cultural policy activities in Finland. Nordisk Kulturpolitisk Tidsskrift (online 20 May 2022). https://doi.org/10.18261/nkt.25.1.5

Luonila, M., Renko, V., Jakonen, O., Karttunen, S. & Kanerva, A. (2021): The effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the field of Finnish Cultural Industries: revealing and challenging policy structures. In: E. Salvador, T. Navarrete & A. Srakar (toim.), Cultural Industries and the Covid-19 Pandemic. A European Focus. Routledge.

Renko, V., Johannisson, J., Kangas, A. & Blomgren, R. (2021): Pursuing decentralisation: regional cultural policies in Finland and Sweden. International Journal of Cultural Policy (online 01 Jul 2021). https://doi.org/10.1080/10286632.2021.1941915

Renko, V., Kangas, A. & Tervo, H. (2020): Kulttuuritoiminta ja alueellinen erilaistuminen. Kulttuuritoiminnan rahoitus Suomen kunnissa 2010-luvulla. Focus Localis 1/2020.

Non-refereed scientific articles

Renko, V. & Hirvi-Ijäs, M. (2022): Mapping regional cultural policies in Canada. Book Review. Nordisk Kulturpolitisk Tidsskrift (online 20 May 2022). https://doi.org/10.18261/nkt.25.1.13

Jakonen, O., Luonila, M., Renko, V. & Kanerva, A. (2020): Katsaus koronan vaikutuksista taiteen ja kulttuurin alojen toimintaedellytyksiin ja kulttuuripolitiikkaan Suomessa. Kulttuuripolitiikan tutkimuksen vuosikirja, 5:1, s. 50–59. https://doi.org/10.17409/kpt.100430

Jakonen, Olli & Renko, Vappu (2019): Kulttuuripolitiikan visiot ja jatkuvuus. Katsaus Suomen puolueiden kevään 2019 eduskuntavaaliohjelmiin ja tuoreimpiin kulttuuripoliittisiin erityisohjelmiin. Kulttuuripolitiikan tutkimuksen vuosikirja, 4:1, s. 36–51.

Renko, Vappu & Luonila, Mervi & Ruusuvirta, Minna & Sokka, Sakarias (2019): European Capitals of Culture in Finland. In: Wolfgang Schneider ja Kristina Jacobsen (toim.): Transforming Cities: Paradigms and Potentials of Urban Development Within the European Capital of Culture. Hildesheim: Georg Olms Verlag AG, 2019, p. 223-232.

Publications intended for professional communities

Jakonen, Olli & Renko, Vappu & Ruusuvirta, Minna & Sokka, Sakarias (201): Kulttuuri ja poikkihallinnollinen yhteistyö Espoossa. Eetvartti 4/2018. Espoon toimintaympäristökatsaus. S. 11–14.

Renko, Vappu & Rossi, Leena-Maija (2013): Taidetta yli rajojen. Suomen kulttuuri- ja tiedeinstituuttien kuvataidetyö ja sen vaikuttavuus 2000-luvulla. Suomen New Yorkin kulttuuri-instituutti. Lönnberg, Helsinki.

Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriö (2012): Kulttuuria kartalla. Valtion osarahoittamien kulttuuripalvelujen sijainti ja kulttuurin kustannukset Suomen kunnissa. Opetus- ja kulttuuriministeriön julkaisuja 2012:32.
Expert duties and other activities
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Co-editor, Finnish Cultural Policy Research Yearbook, 2023–

Board member, HIAP – Helsinki International Artist Programme, 2023–

Steering group member, Kulturanalys Norden, 2020– (chair since 2023)

Board member, secretary, Sociaty for Cultural Policy Research in Finland, 2016–2021

Researcher as a writer

24.8.2023 / Blog A Review of the Government Programme's Cultural Policy in Finland

Vappu Renko

Contact information

Presentation

Research projects

Cupore's publications

Other publications

Expert duties and other activities

Researcher as a writer