Liisa Suvikumpu is both delighted and deeply honoured by the recognition.
“It’s wonderful that the humanities have the confidence to blow their own trumpet with such wonderful accolades.”
Her career gives her an unusually broad vantage point across Finland’s cultural and research landscape. Her diverse engagement and expertise are also reflected in the award justification, which describes her as a prominent figure in Finnish cultural life. In addition to her foundation work, she is a widely requested speaker on science and arts policy and funding. She has extensive experience serving on high-level boards and advisory groups across finance, corporate governance, publishing, the performing arts, and ministerial working groups; roles that have shaped her reputation as a bridge-builder between various sectors. Before her post as the managing director of the Association of Finnish Foundations, she was directing the WSOY Literary Foundation and the Foundation of the Finnish Institute in Rome.
Suvikumpu is also an active writer. Among her non-fiction publications is Suomalaiset kylpylät (‘Finnish spas’), a book on the history of Finnish spa culture, which received the Lauri Jäntti Prize in 2015.
The warmth of a shared campfire
Suvikumpu’s employer, the Association of Finnish Foundations, plays a central role in the Finland’s grantmaking ecosystem.
“We are the country’s only umbrella organisation for foundations, and all of our 245 members are grantmakers. What unites them is the question of how they can most effectively distribute money for the common good. In 2024, they allocated a total of €594 million to research, art and culture.”
She likens foundations to a campfire: a place that draws people together. In turn, the association she leads creates spaces where foundations and other key actors reflect on what Finland and the world need next.
Her role, she says, rewards boundless curiosity.
“Nothing human is alien to foundations. Societal foresight is essential. My task is to encourage foundations to do their work even better and to consider concrete ways to make it possible.”
History speaks to everyone
Suvikumpu was admitted to study history at the University of Helsinki directly after graduating from general upper secondary school. After completing her master’s degree, she became a postgraduate student. Professors asked her to become a project researcher, and took part in a research course at the Finnish Institute in Rome’s Villa Lante. The beginning of her foundation career delayed the doctoral studies, but she completed her thesis on Finnish visual artists in Rome in the 19th century in 2009.
“After receiving my doctorate, I worked in leadership positions at various foundations and wrote non-fiction. I have also freelanced for clients such as publishing houses, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Nokia. Humanities scholars know that no task is too small to matter, and that’s always been my own attitude.”
Her background in the humanities has always been positively received.
“My background in history in particular seems to resonate with people, perhaps because history affects everyone.”
Humanities scholars: don’t hesitate to offer solutions
Working at a hub important to grantmaking has sharpened Suvikumpu’s view of the realities facing research and arts today.
“We could do better to keep in mind that we are in many ways privileged compared with, for example, the increasingly restricted civic spaces of many European countries. We have strong ethical guidelines, well-established processes, and knowledgeable employees. It would be healthy to pay more attention to the positives.”
Suvikumpu recognises, however, that financial pressures and shrinking opportunities lead many people to cling to what they have and turn to negative speech.
“I’d love to see more solution-seeking thinking in the arts and creative fields. Instead of always saying ‘but’, let's also say ‘and’! Humanities scholars could be a bit more on the offensive instead of so often talking about ‘defending’ culture or the humanities.”
Humanities expertise belongs at boardroom tables
For Suvikumpu, the boundaries between disciplines are unnecessary and unhelpful.
“I don’t consider the boundaries between disciplines to be very high. Digital humanities at the Faculty of Arts are a perfect example of how well collaboration can work.”
According to Suvikumpu, those specialising in the humanities have a lot to give – sometimes in unexpected contexts.
“Listed companies could appoint humanities graduates or artists to their boards to shadow their work, listen and offer supplementary opinions. Who knows how far such sparks could fly! Such creative boldness would be a real asset, and influence attitudes towards artists and researchers and the spaces to which they are invited.”
Suvikumpu’s advice for future humanities graduates or those considering the field is clear: studying the humanities always pays off, and there is a little bit of a humanities scholar in all of us.
“Only by studying can you gain more knowledge and a deeper understanding of things. Not everything can be measured and neatly categorised. Humanities scholars possess this secret understanding of the world.”
Humanities scholars: don’t hesitate to offer solutions
Working at a hub important to grantmaking has sharpened Suvikumpu’s view of the realities facing research and arts today.
“We could do better to keep in mind that we are in many ways privileged compared with, for example, the increasingly restricted civic spaces of many European countries. We have strong ethical guidelines, well-established processes, and knowledgeable employees. It would be healthy to pay more attention to the positives.”
Suvikumpu recognises, however, that financial pressures and shrinking opportunities lead many people to cling to what they have and turn to negative speech.
“I’d love to see more solution-seeking thinking in the arts and creative fields. Instead of always saying ‘but’, let's also say ‘and’! Humanities scholars could be a bit more on the offensive instead of so often talking about ‘defending’ culture or the humanities.”
Humanities expertise belongs at boardroom tables
For Suvikumpu, the boundaries between disciplines are unnecessary and unhelpful.
“I don’t consider the boundaries between disciplines to be very high. Digital humanities at the Faculty of Arts are a perfect example of how well collaboration can work.”
According to Suvikumpu, those specialising in the humanities have a lot to give – sometimes in unexpected contexts.
“Listed companies could appoint humanities graduates or artists to their boards to shadow their work, listen and offer supplementary opinions. Who knows how far such sparks could fly! Such creative boldness would be a real asset, and influence attitudes towards artists and researchers and the spaces to which they are invited.”
Suvikumpu’s advice for future humanities graduates or those considering the field is clear: studying the humanities always pays off, and there is a little bit of a humanities scholar in all of us.
“Only by studying can you gain more knowledge and a deeper understanding of things. Not everything can be measured and neatly categorised. Humanities scholars possess this secret understanding of the world.”