Susanna Pettersson becomes the Finnish Cultural Foundation’s CEO

Susanna Pettersson, PhD, has been the director general of Sweden’s Nationalmuseum since 2018. Before that she was the director of, e.g., Ateneum Art Museum/Finnish National Gallery, the Finnish Institute in London, the Alvar Aalto Foundation, and the Alvar Aalto Museum and has been in various posts at the Finnish National Gallery. She has a PhD in art history from the University of Helsinki, is an adjunct professor of museology at the University of Jyväskylä and has been on the board of trustees of many organizations in Finland and abroad.

“Susanna Pettersson’s strong expertise and wide-ranging experience in art and foundations and as a scholar provide excellent qualifications for leading one of Finland’s largest foundations and developing its activities and effectiveness”, says the chair of the Finnish Cultural Foundation’s board of trustees, Hanna Hiidenpalo.

“The Finnish Cultural Foundation is very active in supporting the sciences and arts and in enabling new ideas. The foundation’s role in building a pluralistic society is especially important in these times. I’m truly glad to be able to join the Finnish Cultural Foundation’s competent and committed team”, Pettersson says.

The Finnish Cultural Foundation’s current secretary general, Professor Antti Arjava, will continue in his post until 31.5.2023 and then retire.

The Finnish Cultural Foundation is one of Finland’s largest privately funded foundations. The assets of the Foundation are based on donations and bequests received over more than 80 years. The assets are divided between a Central Fund, regional funds, and nearly 900 donor funds. They amount to almost 2 billion euros.

The Finnish Cultural Foundation uses almost 60 million euros annually to promote Finland’s cultural life through grants and projects. It has about 30 full-time employees and is represented throughout Finland by its regional funds.