Hanna Nurminen

Hanna Kirsti Nurminen
Born May 18, 1955, Helsinki

Master of Arts (Finnish Language), University of Helsinki

Director 2006-, Saari Residence
Farmwife 1982–2013
Assistant officer 1981–1982 and officer 1983–2013, Kone Foundation
Freelance cultural producer 1995–2006
Cultural secretary 1989–1995, municipality of Merimasku

Posts and expert tasks
Member of the Foundation for Finnish Peasant Culture 1988–
Board member of the Kone Foundation 1988–, Vice-chairman 1989–2001, Chairman 2002–
Member of the Arts Council of Southwest Finland 1998-2003 and 2007–2012, Vice-chairman 2007–2009, Chairman May 2002–2003 and 2010–2012
Board member of the Foundation of the Finnish Institute in Athens 2000–2005
Chairman of the KULMA project’s steering group and member of the KULMA team 2003–2005
Board member of The Council of Finnish Foundations 2003–2006
Member of the Arts Council of Finland 2007–2009
Board member of the Turku 2011 Foundation, 2007–2009

Awards
Antti prize for local newspapers, Rannikkoseutu
“Meri” cultural award of the Rymättylä and Merimasku Lions 2001
The Regional Council of Southwest Finland’s Aurora medal for cultural work to the benefit of Southwest Finland 2002
Recognition for cultural work from the Arts Council of Southwest Finland 2005
Merimasku Society’s annual prize 2009

Written by Hanna Nurminen
Translated by John Calton

My Dream

I have just turned 60 and I don’t particularly dream, but perhaps I could wish for something. I would like to be able to lead the Kone Foundation in a direction that my successor could easily continue. The organisation should be light and flexible so that in the future those who will decide on the course of the Foundation’s activities will be able to do so free of burdensome structures.

When I began as a cultural secretary, everybody thought that culture belonged to everyone and there was no particular need for its further justification. Later, culture and the arts have been legitimised as a resource for regional development, as the engine of a creative economy or as an export product. Lately, much has been said about culture improving well-being. Nonetheless, the State has continually cut funding to culture and the arts. I hope that in future art and culture could again become a self-evident part of people’s everyday life.

Both of my daughters are studying at the University of Helsinki, one for a master’s degree at the Faculty of Social Sciences, the other for a PhD at the Faculty of Arts. I hope that they and their study mates will be able to live and work in an equal society which values cultural diversity, takes care of its weaker members and looks after the environment.

By Written By Hanna Nurminen (Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta, ed.), translated by Matthew Billington

Hanna Nurminen

Hanna Kirsti Nurminen
Born May 18, 1955, Helsinki

Master of Arts (Finnish Language), University of Helsinki

Written by Hanna Nurminen
Translated by John Calton