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SYYSKUU / SEPTEMBER 2025
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Dear Friends,
We’ve always got a lot going on at Finlandia Foundation National and fall is no exception! We are busy preparing for the upcoming scholarship and grant applications, fall virtual board meeting, Finnposium events, and the announcement of our 2026 Lecturer and Performer of the Year. As we prepare all this programming, our core values are never far from mind. Centering our work, our core values reflect the diversity of Finland in America. From history & heritage to education & scholarship, one can see these values in action. National Sauna Week is a perfect embodiment of our health & wellbeing core value. This program connects people with a shared passion or story about sauna, whether through their Finnish-American roots or their own sauna businesses. There’s a spot for everyone.
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Perhaps the most modern, and one of my favorite, of our values is innovation & forward-thinking. This might be less obvious at first glance, but I recently had an a-ha moment about its relevance while attending the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce summit in New York. The summit brought together C-level executives from Finnair, Nokia, Neste, Ahlstrom, SAS, Borenius, and others. Consul General Jarmo Sareva opened the day with advice for Finnish businesses entering the U.S. market, which I think apply directly to our situation at Finlandia Foundation: 1) Be prepared. 2) Be present. 3) Be bold. It is in this spirit that we approach the work of FFN, tackling uncertainty and finding innovative ways to keep Finnish-American culture vibrant, relevant, and thriving across generations.
Warmly // Kesäisin terveisin // Med sommarliga hälsningar,
Thomas Flanagan
Executive Director
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Finlandia Foundation Announces 5th Annual National Sauna Week
Our Poster Contest has launched! The submission deadline is November 15th.
We’re heating up plans for our 5th annual National Sauna Week — featuring a week of engaging online webinars, in-person events nationwide, and an expanding network of participating sauna establishments.
Learn more here.
| | | Upcoming Finnposium: Paavo Nurmi, Phantom Finn — Sept 27 | | |
Join us September 27 at 9am PT / 12pm ET / 7pm Finland on Zoom for our Finnposium: Paavo Nurmi, Phantom Finn. Step into the story of Paavo Nurmi, the legendary Phantom Finn who stunned America in 1925 by racing 53 times in five months and setting 40 records. At this special Finnposium webinar, we’ll explore Nurmi’s impact on both sides of the Atlantic with:
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Kalle Virtapohja, author of Phantom Finn – The Contradictory Story of Paavo Nurmi in the Land of Dollars
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Jari Salonen, CEO of the Paavo Nurmi Games and Marathon
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Moderated by Anne-Mari Paster, former FFN President
Discover Nurmi’s lasting legacy and hear about new collaborations connecting Turku, Finland, with Hurley, Wisconsin.
🔗 Register here
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Eric Aho: Artist in Residence
Finlandia Foundation National is proud to welcome Finnish American painter Eric Aho as our first Artist in Residence. During his October residency in the Copper Country, Aho will draw inspiration from local forests and shorelines to create new works, which will be displayed alongside 25 paintings from his Vermont studio in the exhibition Northern Tier at the Finlandia Art Gallery (Sept. 18–Nov. 13, 2025). This residency marks the culmination of Aho’s recognition as FFN’s Artist of the Year (2022–2024), honoring his contributions to contemporary art and his deep Finnish American roots. Learn more here.
| | | | Saving Finland in America Update Call | | |
In 2023, FFN launched the Saving Finland in America campaign to preserve the Finnish American Heritage Center and Historical Archive in Hancock, Michigan. Since then, the Folk School, Art Gallery, North Wind Books, and Finnish American Reporter have all joined FFN’s main operations.Thanks to the generosity of over 900 donors nationwide, the campaign was honored as 2024 Finnish Expatriate of the Year.
Join us Tuesday, September 30 at 12pm PT / 3pm ET for an update on the campaign’s progress, our future vision, and a chance to share your thoughts.
🔗 Register here
| | Beyond our Performer and Lecturer of the Year programs, we’re also accepting applications for the prestigious Lindfors Legal Studies Scholarship and for speakers interested in being part of National Sauna Week 2026. And, we've just opened submissions for the National Sauna Week Poster Contest! Links below👇 | | Performer and Lecturer of the Year 2026: Deadline October 1 | |
Finlandia Foundation National (FFN) honors individuals who significantly contribute to Finnish and Finnish-American culture through its annual Lecturer of the Year (LOY) and Performer of the Year (POY) programs. These initiatives aim to promote Finnish heritage and foster community engagement across the United States.
Both programs are integral to FFN's mission to preserve and promote Finnish culture in the United States. Through these initiatives, FFN facilitates cultural exchange and deepens the appreciation of Finnish heritage among American audiences.
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| National Sauna Week - Call for Speakers: Deadline September 30 | Friends of Finland Youth Exhibition: Call for Chapter Nominations | |
The Finlandia Gallery at the Finnish American Heritage Center (435 Quincy Street, Hancock, MI) invites Finlandia Foundation Chapters nationwide to nominate up to three youth artworks (K–12) for the upcoming Friends of Finland Youth Exhibition.
This national exhibit will feature original art with a Finnish or Finnish-American theme.
Submission guidelines and more information at FinlandiaArtGallery.com.
| | Grants and Scholarships: Application Period opens November 1 | National Sauna Week Poster Contest : Entries Due November 15 | |
Celebrate the Finnish sauna tradition by entering FFN’s National Sauna Week Poster Contest! Artists 18+ from the U.S. are invited to submit original artwork that captures the essence of the sauna. The winning design will be featured in National Sauna Week 2026 promotions and receive a $300 prize.
Deadline: November 15, 2025
National Sauna Week: February 15–21, 2026
🔗 Submit your entry
| | We are proud to share that our Folk School Director, Clare Zuraw, was recently featured on Copper Country Today with host Todd VanDyke. Clare spoke about the diverse offerings of the Finnish American Folk School, the importance of engaging young people in traditional activities, and how keeping these crafts alive—while allowing them to evolve—ensures they will not be lost. She also highlighted the Folk School’s outreach events for kids, which play a vital role in passing these traditions on to the next generation. Listen to the full conversation here. | | |
Finland’s men’s national basketball team has made history at EuroBasket 2025, advancing to the semifinals for the first time ever after a stunning 93–79 victory over Georgia. Although they narrowly missed a medal—losing to Greece 92–89 in the bronze game—this marks Finland’s best finish in the tournament. Lauri Markkanen, among the standout players, was named to the All-Tournament Second Team.
Read more at Reuters.com.
| | We are proud to share that Esa-Pekka Salonen, Finlandia Foundation National’s esteemed Patron, has been appointed to the newly established role of Creative Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, beginning with the 2026/27 season. This historic position recognizes Salonen’s visionary artistry and his long legacy of innovation with the LA Phil. In this role, he will lead groundbreaking collaborations, festivals, and new commissions—continuing to expand the reach of orchestral music worldwide. His appointment is an exciting milestone for both the global music community and the Finlandia Foundation family. Read more here. | |
Hancock and FFN Leaders Embark on Cultural Delegation to Finland | |
Finlandia Foundation National recently joined a delegation of Hancock, Michigan community leaders, led by Honorary Consul James N. Kurtti, on an inspiring trip to Finland and Estonia, Ameriikan Lapista Vanhaan Lappiin (“From American Lapland to Old Lapland”).
Highlights included meetings with mayors and cultural leaders, tours of innovative heritage and tourism initiatives, and a visit to Taivalkoski’s Päätalo-Keskus Library, where a family tree installation highlights the deep and storied connections of people from Northern Finland to Copper Country. The group also connected with city leaders in Porvoo, Hancock’s sister city.
The delegation met with Fenno-Ugria in Estonia, in connection with Hancock’s designation as the 2026 Finno-Ugric Cultural Capital. Supported in part by an FFN grant, the journey strengthened international ties while fostering innovation, cultural exchange, and pride in Finnish-American heritage.
| | | | Don't forget to shop your favorite Finnish books and items at our bookstore! | | |
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Join the Finlandia Legacy Society today!
| | Our legacy is our people. What’s yours? Learn more about our Finlandia Legacy Society by emailing: office@finlandiafoundation.org | | | | |
