The Henna and Pertti Niemistö Art Foundation – ARS FENNICA sr awards one of the largest art prizes in the Nordic countries, valued at 50 000 euros, every two years. The prize is given to an artist in recognition of their high-quality and personal artistic work.
The foundation’s prize committee nominates the candidates, and an international art expert selects the winner from the shortlist. The nominees have often been Finnish, but also from other Nordic and Baltic countries. The main aim of the prize is to connect Finnish art organically to the international art scene.
The award program includes an exhibition featuring all the nominees. The 35-year-old foundation has organized over 50 exhibitions across Finland, and occasionally abroad, as in New York, Stockholm, and Tallinn. The public can vote for their favorite in the exhibition.