Performer of the Year

Kantele artist Merja Soria was the inaugural POY in 1996; since then, the touring talent has included singers and instrumentalists in many genres.

Current POY is Los Angeles-based actor/filmmaker/musician Miska Kajanus, who delivers a comedic monologue about his personal journey from Finland to the U.S.

Any talent that appeals to a range of ages and is consistent with the goals of the FFN is welcome.

The POY must reside in the U.S. Application deadline for the next POY is September 1, 2024.

Recent POY include actor/comedian Miska Kajanus, singer/songwriter Ida Metsberg and jazz artist Eeppi Ursin.

Miska Kajanus, 2024

Ida Metsberg, 2023

Eeppi Ursin, 2022

Lecturer of the Year

Building on the success of the POY, Finlandia Foundation launched a compatible lecture tour in 2006 featuring Ben Strout and his documentary film Fire and Ice, about the Winter War.

Hanna Pylväinen, author of The End of Dream-Time is current LOY; other presentations have covered architecture, folkways, history---even cooking demonstrations.

Any presentation that appeals to a range of ages and is consistent with the goals of the FFN is welcome.



The LOY must reside in the U.S. Application deadline for the next LOY is September 1, 2024.

Recent LOY include authors Hanna Pylväinen (The End of Drum-Time) and Suzanne Matson (Ultraviolet) and “The Finn Cooks,” Soile Anderson and Eleanor Ostman.

Hanna Pylväinen, 2024

Suzanne Matson, 2023

"The Finn Cooks," 2022

Finlandia Foundation National is the premier network of Finnish-American organizations in the United States. Founded in Pasadena, California in 1953, it administers grants, scholarships and programs supporting and celebrating Finnish heritage and Finnish-American culture and traditions.

Finlandia Foundation National, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) organization, so your donation is tax deductible. Please click here to make your gift today.