Open Position: Artistic Director, Musica nova Helsinki
We are seeking an Artistic Director for Finland’s largest international contemporary music festival.
Musica nova Helsinki is a contemporary music biennale that highlights the most interesting new music, engages with current phenomena, and builds bridges between contemporary music and other art forms. Musica nova Helsinki is the largest contemporary music event in Finland and one of the most significant in Europe. The festival was founded in 1981 under the name Helsinki Biennale. Musica nova presents the most interesting new music to Finnish audiences, takes a stand on current phenomena, and aims to find bridges between contemporary music and other art forms. The festival acts as a meeting point for contemporary music and a showcase from Finland to the world and from the world to Finland. The festival actively seeks and reaches new audiences through interesting program planning, cross-artistic co-productions, and various partnerships.
At the core of the festival is a strong shared vision of the main organizers – the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE, represented by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra, the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Tapiola Sinfonietta, the Society of Finnish Composers, and the Helsinki Festival – to make contemporary music visible and to prove that it is firmly rooted in the present day as well as a forerunner.
The administration and production is managed by the Helsinki Events Foundation, whose part-time executive producer as well as marketing communications, and administration specialists support the Artistic Director in their work.
The Artistic Director is responsible for the festival’s artistic content and its development. We are now looking for a new Artistic Director as Tuuli Lindeberg concludes her three-festival term at the 2027 event.
Job Description and Responsibilities
The task of the Artistic Director is to plan the festival program, including mapping out international and domestic performances. The program, which consists of different production models and partnerships, is created in collaboration with the main organizers, the independent field, and other content providers of the festival. In addition, the Artistic Director is responsible for planning the festival’s own productions. The Artistic Director’s extensive networks, versatile vision, and knowledge of grant writing and funding ensure the creation of the best possible program. Knowledge of the contemporary music field and credibility among the independent arts scene, institutions, and funders create a solid foundation for working across two festival cycles.
As Artistic Director, you act as a unifying force between different actors in the Finnish music scene. The role of the Artistic Director is to serve as a bridge and an intermediary between the independent field and established institutions.
The position is part-time, and an overall fee is agreed upon for the entire Artistic Director term between 2027–2031. The first festival planned by the new Artistic Director will take place in February 2029. The Artistic Director has the opportunity to define their own working hours for the festival term, but the assumption is that as the event approaches and during it, the Artistic Director is closely involved in the execution of the festival.
Key tasks:
- Program Curation and Guidelines: You work in close collaboration with orchestra intendenti, conductors, and actors in the independent field. (Note: The main organizing orchestras are responsible for their own composition commissions, season concerts, and their costs, so final decision-making and budgetary power regarding orchestra segments remain with the institutions themselves.)
- Development of Professional Forum and Networks: You collaborate with organizations such as the Society of Finnish Composers (e.g., panel discussions, events and talks aimed at professionals and future makers, networking), strengthening the event’s internationality and internal dialogue within the sector.
- Helsinki Events Foundation and Production Collaboration: You work seamlessly with the executive producer and the Helsinki Events Foundation. The Helsinki Events Foundation is responsible for the festival’s general production budget and framework.
- Representation and Networking: This position is a flagship role in the Finnish contemporary music scene. The task offers opportunities to represent the festival in international arenas and to respond to representational invitations.
What We Expect from the Applicant
- Strong Knowledge of the Finnish Art Music Field: You deeply understand the Finnish art music field (both institutions and the independent field) and know how to examine international activities from a Finnish perspective.
- Vision and Networks: You master current phenomena in contemporary music and contemporary art, and you have working relationships with domestic and international artists as well as industry actors.
- Collaboration and Interaction Skills: You know how to act as a unifying factor between large orchestra institutions, producers, and independent artists. You participate in writing funding applications regarding content matters.
- Proven Track Record in Artistic Work: A suitable background may be, for example, a career as a performing artist, composer, or curator. It is possible to combine the position with your own artistic career.
Application Procedure and Selection
The applicant is expected to show commitment and artistic vision for the future of the festival.
Applications are submitted in English at https://www.gest.fi/customers/cdekab/10831?lang=en
or in Finnish at https://www.gest.fi/customers/cdekab/10831?lang=fi
by October 19, 2026, at 18:00 (UTC +3).
Expert evaluation will be used in the selection process.
Workload, Compensation, and Benefits
The work is part-time (estimated at about 10–15% of regular working hours) and the compensation for one festival is €20,000 / festival, i.e. €40,000 for the duration of the contract period. The salary is paid twice a year. In addition, the Artistic Director may receive bonuses for successful fundraising.
Apart from a few production meetings and the festival itself, the work can be carried out remotely. The Events Foundation’s office in Suvilahti is also available for performing the work.
In addition to the fee, the Artistic Director has a travel budget and a small representation budget.
Application period and further information:
September 28 – October 19, 2026
Sami Ylisaari
CEO, Helsinki Events Foundation
sami.ylisaari@eventshelsinki.fi
+358 505734424
Image: Maarit Kytöharju