The steering group established in August 2012 by the Ministry of Education and Culture has formulated a proposal for a children’s culture policy programme for the years 2014–2018. The programme proposal promotes the goal of supporting the right of all children to access art and culture by strengthening the status and operating conditions of children’s culture, as stated in the government programme.

Art and culture reinforce the creativity of children and young people as well as their critical thinking, self-esteem and ability to utilize and change culture. They give children and young people possibilities to discover their own strengths and objects of interest. The cultural activities of children and young people exert many multiple influences: they increase initiative and enterprise and improve the quality and management of life and the ability to understand oneself and others. Knowledge, skills and experiences of art and one’s cultural heritage are a key part of all-round education.

The outlook for Finland as it nears its 100th anniversary as an independent nation is characterized and delineated by its children and youth: in their values, creativity, well-being and success in life. Support for the upbringing of children and young people represents one of the most important tasks of a society and a civilized country. Nevertheless, decisions in our society are frequently made compromising children’s basic needs – and at risk to children.

This programme proposal presents measures through which aim to promote and foster the equal opportunities of children and youth to participate in art and culture, strengthen the status children’s culture, and increase the well-being of children and youth.

In this programme, children’s culture is conceived as the provision of artistic and cultural heritage suitable for children and youth and as children’s participation in the creation of art and culture. The scope of the programme is limited to children and young people under the age of 18. In particular, the proposal emphasizes listening to children and youth as well as appreciating childhood and the youth experience. The programme is directed first and foremost to decision-makers concerned with children’s affairs and to those working with children. The implementation of these measures nevertheless requires cooperation and commitment on the part of many actors and administrative fields.

The key measures are:

- establishing a National Centre for the Promotion of Children’s Culture and Art Education - increasing the all-round teaching provided to children in general education by means of art and culture - including the accessibility and availability of art and culture as a basic right for children and young people in decision-makers’ - key planning and strategy documents - developing the environments of children and youth based on their needs and hearing their views - increasing the cultural competence of children and youth - providing children with more opportunities to participate in art and culture - increasing the teaching of children’s culture and the related methods and pedagogy in class teachers’ and other types of art education

The steering group hopes that its proposals for measures will be dealt with and implemented comprehensively throughout the entire field of art and culture. The programme proposal considers children’s cultural rights and, in particular, subjectivity as part of the policies of children’s culture. The implementation of these legal rights requires a more precise specification in practice, as well as ensuring that opportunities to participate are equally available to all children and youth.