Finland’s big year 2017

Theme – Together

The theme of Finland’s centenary celebration year is ‘Together’. With the help of a host of participants, we will draw up a lively programme covering the whole of 2017. The centenary celebration is open to both Finns and friends of Finland. Now you have the opportunity to do a small or great deed and so make a contribution to your own community – Finland.

The centenary is a vantage point from which we can look both forward and back on a hundred years, with our feet firmly planted in the present. Our centenary programme will deepen our understanding of the entire period since independence, while surveying Finland as it is now and seeking and forging a new country.

A varied programme will mark Finland’s independence celebrations in 2017. While overall responsibility for putting the programme together rests with the ‘Finland 100 Years’ organisation established in the Prime Minister’s Office, the centenary programme can only be created through the joint efforts of Finns and friends of Finland. The programme’s implementation and themes are going to be as diverse as Finland and the Finns.

Building the programme together

Anyone can propose a project to be included in the Finland 100 programme – this means you or your club, association or company. Applications are received up to the autumn 2017. To read more about the principles of programme preparation and the requirements for cooperation and partnering agreement and to access the online application form, click this link.

Apply

Programme updated on a continuous basis

We present the Finland 100 Programme by providing a summary of each project in the Programme section with a link to more detailed information. We will update the project descriptions at the same pace as the projects are ready to be published. New projects are announced on almost a daily basis so check the Finland 100 site regularly.

Centenary year arrangements and organisation

Responsibility for the organisation of the centenary year rests with the ‘Finland 100 Years’ project organisation established in the Prime Minister’s Office.

The outlines for the centenary year are approved by a broad-based Centenary Commission that represents 70 key organisations and convenes once a year. The Commissioned is chaired by the Prime Minister and co-chaired by the Minister of Finance.

The project secretariat at the Prime Minister’s Office is in charge of creating the programme as a whole under the supervision of the General Secretary. Responsibility for the regional arrangements across Finland rests with the Finland 100 regional network that comprises the regional councils and Finland’s six largest cities.

The work of the secretariat is guided by once a month convening Centenary Board, whose membership includes a chairperson and 11 representatives of various sectors of society.

The Board is to prepare a declaration of the centenary programme, which will set out the key objectives, principles, themes and activities for the centenary year. The Board is also responsible for planning and coordinating the official events as well as for implementing and steering the centennial year.

The Centenary Board is chaired by State Secretary Paula Lehtomäki, with General Secretary Pekka Timonen as its secretary, both from the Prime Minister’s Office.