THE UNION OF FINNISH WRITERS

The Union of Finnish Writers was established in 1897 for the ideological and professional organization of Finnish-speaking writers of fiction.

THE PURPOSE OF THE WRITERS' UNION
The purpose of the Union is to act as a connecting link between its members working throughout the country and the world; to monitor and develop the artistic, professional, and financial interests of writers; and to promote Finnish literature.

MEMBERSHIP
To become a member of the Union of Finnish Writers a candidate must fulfill the requirement of having published high quality original works in the Finnish language based on which s/he can be considered an author. At present the Union of Finnish Writers has some 500 members.

PRACTICAL ACTIVITIES
The Union tries to achieve its purpose by:

• defending the freedom of speech and publishing and other rights that form the foundation of writers' work;
  
• monitoring writers copyrights and acting for the development of the legislation of the field;
  
• negotiating and making agreements with publishers and their organizations;
  
• representing writers as a profession and issuing expert statements;
  
• assisting writers financially through managing and enlarging funds established to support the creative process and guarantee the social security of writers;
  
• maintaining contacts with provincial and other writers' organizations and educational organizations;
  
• maintaining contacts with Nordic and other overseas and international writers' and educational organizations in matters involving common goals;
  
• practising information and publishing activities, gathering material dealing with literature and cultural history as well as organizing various functions, negotiations and seminars.

INTERNATIONAL OPERATION
The Union of Finnish Writers is an active member of the European Writers' Congress, the Nordic Council of Writers and Translators, the Baltic Writers' and Translators' Council and the Fenno-Ugrian Writers' Council. The Union of Finnish Writers has concluded agreements, based on cultural exchange programs, with writers' unions in many countries and cooperates with Finnish cultural institutes operating in a number of countries.

AGREEMENTS
The Union of Finnish Writers has negotiated frame agreements for publishing and actively strives for the establishment of comprehensive agreements, for the entire field, concerning secondary use of literary works.

ORGANIZATION
The affairs of the Union are run by its legally composed Board of Directors consisting of the chairman plus eight members. The full term of the Board of Directors is three years. A Literary Board assists the Board of Directors.

COMMUNICATION WITH MEMBERS
The Union reaches its members comprehensively through a monthly newsletter and the KIRJAILIJA quarterly. The newsletter contains information on available grants, writing competitions, writer exchange programs, and other topical issues.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
The Union of Finnish Writers awards its members annual grants for literary work and purchase of working tools. Members may also apply for travel and study scholarships related to their work.

PRIZES
The Union of Finnish Writers acknowledges professional achievements annually by granting the Union's Award for Merit, the Tirlittan Prize of literature for children and adolescents, and the prize for a first work.

OFFICE

The office of the Union of Finnish Writers is open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

ADDRESS:
UNION OF FINNISH WRITERS
Runeberginkatu 32 C 28
FIN-00100 Helsinki
info(at)suomenkirjailijaliitto.fi


Telephone: +358 0 445 392
Fax: +358 0 492 278