“It is terrifying to study in a field that the current political decisions are determinedly suffocating. A field whose meaning and status are being trampled systematically. A field, whose actors’ anguish is met with indifference and belittleing. A field whose freedom is in danger.”
The Finnish government is planning on cutting 75 million euros from the Ministry of Education and Culture. That will mean cuts to either education, youth, sports or art and culture. It is heartbreaking to notice that almost no matter where the cuts will occur, as art students, we will suffer from them.
Students of art and culture fields currently exist in an intersection of paralyzing cuts. We find ourselves in a situation where multiple simultaneous decisions, cuts, affect the same group of people, us, and the effects of which have been piling up for some time. We study in a field weakened by historic cuts that threaten irreversably the operating conditions, development and longevity of the Finnish art and culture scene. As students our study grant system has been made more loan-based and the amount of the financial support for housing is decreasing. Because of these changes to students’ livelihood, the possibility to solely focus on studying has diminished, since more and more of us simply must work alongside our studies to even afford bare necessities. We are pushed to study harder and faster, but with less support. We should finish our studies swiftly only to graduate to a field where finding a job is in no way guaranteed anymore. So we graduate a diploma in one hand, a huge loan in the other hand. These cuts do not only affect the students current meek financial situation. They question our decision to dedicate a huge part of our lives to study and make art. Many of us still make that decision, in more and more uncertain circumstances.
“Art students are often affected by overlaping cuts. Our housing and study grants are being cut while our future job opportunities are also demolished. Students need carrots not cuts!”
Ymmärrämme hallituksen tavoitteen pysäyttää valtion velkaantuminen ja kääntää talouden suunta. Hallitus on väittänyt, että taiteeseen ja kulttuuriin kohdistuvat leikkaukset ovat suuressa kuvassa tarpeellisia ja kohtuullisia. On vaikea olla väittämättä vastaan samalla, kun tulevaisuuden työpaikkamme kaatuvat ja instituutiot vetäytyvät selviytyäkseen itseensä, sulkien työllistymismahdollisuudet vastavalmistuneilta ja freelancereiltä. Leikkaukset ovat saattaneet tulevaisuuden työpaikkamme kestämättömään tilaan. Puoliväliriihi on tilaisuus valita toisin. Alan opiskelijoilla – tulevaisuuden tekijöillä – ei ole enää varaa lisäleikkauksiin. Maata jalkojemme alta on nakerrettu jo joka suunnasta. Pyydämme, jättäkää meille jotain tulevaisuudestamme jäljelle.
"The cuts in the cultural sector are a direct blow to diversity and pluralism. Art is a means of resistance and dissent."
TaiYo was involved in handing over the Cut the Cuts! address, signed by more than 100,000 people, to party representatives at the beginning of April. At the event, we used quotes from this article to tell how students in the field feel about the situation. That graduating in this field no longer feels like a dream come true. That passion has turned into survival. That hope is replaced by paralysis when we are not listened to in the rooms where the decisions are being made.
It feels like no rational argument is enough. The art and culture sector employs a huge number of professionals, its impact increases the gross domestic product, the money invested in it is returned many times over, it makes cities and municipalities more vibrant and attractive to residents and tourists. Art supports people's well-being, increases participation and strengthens democracy in society. Even just one of these examples should be a reason to protect and strengthen the field of art and culture, not to cut more and more. And yet – that’s what is happening: cuts. It raises a question that can no longer be ignored: Why are we not appreciated? Miksi meitä ei arvosteta?
We art students try to build a life worth living where art is a part of society, not its edge. We want to do work that creates meaning and brings good to others as well. When even the above-mentioned instrumental values are not enough to defend our industry, the feeling of worthlessness creeps in. The cuts are not just budget decisions – they are messages about what is considered important. We are not seen as important at the moment, and we do not understand why.
"We have been encouraged to pursue our dreams. Art has been our hobby, our field of studies. We have made art for a long time and persistently in order to become professional artists. But now the government’s policies are punishing us for pursuing our dreams."
Suomalainen taiteen ja kulttuurin kenttä on rakennettu vuosisataisella pitkäjänteisellä työllä, unelmilla ja sitkeydellä. Näitä meillä yhä on, mutta ne eivät riitä, mikäli perustukset revitään irti ilman mahdollisuutta siirtymälle. Suomi tarvitsee tulevaisuudessa osaajia, jotka jatkavat tärkeää työtä niiden ilmiöiden parissa, joita teknologialla ei voida koskaan saavuttaa. Me emme tarvitse uusia leikkauksia. Me tarvitsemme turvaa ja rauhaa, aikaa ja tilaa. Ennen kaikkea me tarvitsemme uskoa siihen, että tällä yhteiskunnalla on edelleen tilaa ja arvostusta taiteelle – ja meille, jotka sitä opiskelemme ja teemme.