Photo by Ian Tulud
Kati Laakso
Executive Director Finnish Cultural Institute in New York
laakso@fciny.org
The cultural connections between Finland and the United States have been evolving ever since the emigration of Finns to the United States in the 19th century, and they continue to thrive today, with active interaction and dialogue on various levels.
Finnish immigrants sought out areas that reminded them of their homeland like Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin; and even today, Finland’s influence can be seen in the lives of many Americans of Finnish descent. A testament to this are the nearly 60 active chapters under the Finlandia Foundation umbrella across 24 states. Many Finnish Americans hold on to traditions and customs that, over time, have blended with American cultural norms and notions. According to the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), in 2020 there were 601 169 people reporting Finnish ancestry (with a margin of error +/- 16 874), referring to shared cultural characteristics such as language, ancestry, practices, and/or beliefs. That number has dropped by nearly 50 000 since 2018.
Soon after the start of Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine in 2022, Finland made the swift decision to apply for NATO membership. Finland’s president Sauli Niinistö became a fixture in American media outlets, and an awareness of Finland, as a nation sharing a long border with Russia, took on a new dimension. The positive impact of Sanna Marin’s prime ministerial term on the perceived image of Finland had already laid the groundwork for Finland's rise in American media. As the new geopolitical situation heightened interest in Finland within the United States, commercial interests in the American market also gained traction in Finland.
Finland is known for the commitment to democratic governance, human rights and equality, a strong welfare system, and sustainable values. In the United States, Finland is seen as a country where education, work-life balance, and a deep connection to nature are highly valued, and where citizens can lead fulfilling lives. It is no surprise that Finland has been named one of the happiest countries in the world several years in a row – a ranking that many Americans are aware and in awe of.
However, Finland’s cultural peculiarities are still relatively unknown in the United States – aside from the more obvious, historical references of notable cultural figures such as Alvar Aalto, Eero Saarinen, and Jean Sibelius. This is despite Finland's unique expertise and creativity, and the wide array of professionals hailing from Finland in many cultural fields. Finland has yet to establish a solid storyline of our contemporary makers, doers, and thinkers – a necessary core feature in the fiercely competitive (cultural) market of the United States.
Unfortunately, but not uncommonly, cultural dialogue and exchange are carried out with limited resources, which is restrictive considering the immense opportunities for the culture and creative sector within the United States. Growth however, is never possible without investment, and the threat of cutting our national cultural budgets will risk the valuable, long-term efforts made to date. We should not forget that culture never resides in a vacuum; instead it is always in dialogue with all facets of society, driving important discussions forward and providing support for the many functions of our societies from the sidelines.
As a small nation, Finland is only able to function through a collective approach and a steadfast commitment to long-term goals. A prime example of cooperation is the initiative of the 2010's in which several ministries came together to promote the Finnish design field. This initiative, managed locally by the Finnish Cultural Institute and the Finnish Consulate General in New York, materialized through annual events presented as part of New York Design Week. Through consistent participation, the events successfully piqued the interest of NYC’s design influencers, who started to get accustomed to and excited about discovering new presentations of Finnish designers, companies, and ideas each May – elevating works and ideas that otherwise lacked visibility on the local circuit. Based on the press coverage from the 2008 edition, Finland was still seen as peripheral at that point:
"Best of the Meatpacking District off-site shows so far: “Hardcore Design”, a collection of new work from Finland, much of which actually looks new. Perhaps it's the relative cultural separation Finland has from the rest of Europe, and by extension the design world in general, but there's some unusually clever, well-resolved work here."
We have come a long way since, and today, Finland is often seen as a pioneer in the design sector, particularly in terms of material-based choices and research. A recent example, from last spring, was the collaboration on textile innovations between Aalto University, Parsons School of Design, the Helsinki-based creative consultancy Juni, along with the local partners the Finnish Cultural Institute, and the Consulate General of Finland in New York.
Finnish organizations and companies based in the United States have succeeded in significantly enhancing our national brand in the past decade through constantly developing and executing new initiatives. We are now facing a new era, and have the opportunity to leverage the currently highly positive perception of Finland to our advantage. The intersecting realms of culture, society, and the economy should be utilized together as they resonate especially well in the United States, where the fusion of art, creativity, and commercialization is the natural way of doing things.
A great advantage that Finland has is an already established reputation in the United States. Just as Finland harnessed its potential after the Second World War, when international economic relationships of Finnish industry and exports came to a halt, it is just as relevant now to seize the potential that is available in the United States, and to invest in promoting the achievements of Finland through combining the forces of art, science, and business.