Concert Centre Finland (Konserttikeskus)

Konserttikeskus (Concert Centre Finland) is a non-profit association established in 1963. Its aim is to arrange tours of high-quality concert programs for children in a wide variety all over Finland, mainly in public schools and kindergartens.

Concert Centre Finland arranges 3 concerts a day and many times the concerts take place in different schools. Concerts are usually held in gym halls in schools.

Are you a band from outside Finland and want to be taking music to children and young people? Apply to be part of our program by sending a free-form application to: konserttikeskus@konserttikeskus.fi. More information below.

In the picture: BREK (Iceland)

Working to bring live music to children and youth

The aim of Concert Centre Finland is to introduce children and young people to various forms of musical expression and to provide them with artistic experiences. School concerts should be inspiring encounters between professional musicians/artists and young audiences, sparking thoughts and ideas. While school concerts can be informative in different ways, the most important aspect is to connect children and young people with live music – without strict limitations on eras, styles, or genres – and its performers.

Concert Centre Finland expects that:

  • The school and kindergarten concert is artistically high-quality and provides the listener with a positive experience and fresh ideas.
  • Music should be the main focus.
  • The concert takes into account the composition of the target audience and the specific requirements of the school/kindergarten concert, and it should, where possible, support pedagogical objectives and provide additional value to them.
  • Performers establish a connection with the audience that lasts throughout the concert; the performance is designed as a coherent whole.
  • The concert is hosted naturally and clearly with appropriate length of dialogue, but instrumental concerts are also possible. Performers must be able to assess the audience’s receptiveness.
  • The duration of the concert is 30–35 minutes in kindergartens and approximately 40 minutes in schools.
  • The selected program remains the same throughout the season. This is important, for example, for Teosto notifications (music copyrights).

How to apply for our program?

Call for Finnish programs for the academic year 2025–2026

Concert Centre Finland is looking for live music performances for school and kindergarten tours. Please note that this Call for Programs is targeted for groups located in Finland. We organize 1000–1500 concerts and music workshops annually across Finland in collaboration with local organizers. The tour days consist of three concerts and many times the concerts take place in different schools. Performers are paid concert and workshop fees, including travel expenses.

The next application period will start in the fall of 2025.

Application for foreign programs

Foreign programs are selected based on free-form applications. Our program search form is only intended for Finnish shows.

Music must have a dominant role in our concert programs. It should also be noted that most of the concerts take place in lower secondary schools (1st to 6th grade) with performing groups of 2–4 persons. You can apply to be part of the Konserttikeskus selection of concerts for the school by sending a free-form application to: konserttikeskus@konserttikeskus.fi

The new programs are selected by a program committee for the next school year. Please note that the program selections for the next school year are made during December and January.

Questions about program search? Contact:
Noora Herranen, executive director
tel. +358 50 463 6782
noora.herranen@konserttikeskus.fi

Marketing of our concert selection

Concert Centre primarily communicates its program through its website (konserttikeskus.fi) and seasonal brochures. Given the large annual subscription base of Concert Centre, a significant portion of orders comes through these channels. We encourage our performers to post material from their tours on social media. Tag us on Facebook and Instagram @konserttikeskus

Part of JMI network

Konserttikeskus is an associate member of Jeunesses Musicales International (JMI) and  a member of the Nordic Network for School Concerts. The international cooperation aims to increase the quantity as well as quality of concerts for young audiences and to improve the possibilities for the exchange of concerts between the European countries/regions. A stellar example of this cooperation was during 2014–2016 JMI’s Blackboard Music Project which was supported by EU’s Culture Programme Creative Europe.

To our performers:

To Concert Centre performers

Below you will find information about practical arrangements and fees.

Examples of tour days

Concert Centre Finland arranges 3 concerts a day and many times the concerts take place in different schools. Concerts are usually held in gym halls in schools. In a school environment, the concert should be easily transferable.

Agreeing on tours

Concert Centre aims to organize school and kindergarten concert tours within the limits of demand and its financial resources for the programs it has selected. The programs are presented on Concert Centre’s website and in brochures sent to all educational institutions and kindergartens. Concerts and workshops are arranged on a case-by-case basis with the performer groups that have received orders and local organizers.

Normally, there is no offcial performing contract for performances. Instead, Concert Centre sends detailed concert confirmations (an example of a tour confirmation) via email to both performers and clients, outlining the details of the tour. Concerts are typically conducted in tour format, with three school/kindergarten concerts held on each tour day. The tour day may also include workshops. The touring area covers the whole of Finland.

Without a separate agreement, performer groups do not have the right to sell a program listed in Concert Centre’s repertoire under Concert Centre’s name. However, the performer group is free to sell their program under their own name.

The performing group must select from among its members a representative who will act as the main contact person for the group towards Concert Centre Finland.

We hope that at least one member of the performing group holds a driver’s license and has the ability to act as a driver during tours. We recommend using a personal vehicle for tours. Concert Centre Finland reimburses mileage for the use of a personal car. Tours always utilize one vehicle to keep travel expenses reasonable and to maintain the ecological and logistical efficiency of our touring operations.

If the members of the band do not have their own car available, Concert Centre Finland arranges a rental car.

We accommodate performers in affordable accommodations within a reasonable distance from the venues where the concerts take place.

In larger cities, performers are usually accommodated in Scandic hotels. Accommodation is not arranged if the tour day takes place less than 100 km away from the performer’s home.

Concert Centre Finland’s performers can borrow Concert Centre’s sound equipments (PA system) for their school concert tours. Pickup of the PA system usually occurs the day before the tour begins, and return on the last tour day, unless otherwise agreed. Concert Centre has three PA sets, wireless microphones, and equipment for video projection.

The band is responsible for replacing any lost equipment/items during the tour. The band must report any faulty equipment to Concert Centre at the latest upon return.

Please note that due to the limited number of PA sets, we cannot guarantee equipment for all tours. If possible, we recommend using your own sound system during tours.

Examples of tour days

Tour days consist of three concerts. Throughout the day, there are often transitions, and concerts typically occur between 9 am and 2 pm.

An example of a tour day in schools:

An example of a tour day in kindergartens:

HONORARIUMS

Artist residing in Finland:

The fee guidelines below mostly apply to performers residing in Finland as well. Performers residing in Finland (meaning you live in Finland for more than 6 months a year) do not need to provide an A1 certificate. They can choose whether to receive the fee through a tax card or by invoicing. The chosen method of fee collection cannot be changed during the presence in the repertoire (maximum of 3 years). Programs with performers residing abroad can only be in the repertoire for one year at a time.

The fee guidelines for domestic performers can be found (in Finnish) in the performer’s guide: www.konserttikeskus.fi/esiintyjille

Artist from outside Finland:

Honorarium for school concerts

The honorarium depends on the number of performers. Reimbursements for travel, accommodation and per diem (53€/day) will be paid in addition.

Concert Centre confirms the tours by email. Our production manager will send a detailed tour plan before the tour.

Fee/performer (€) for the school year 2024–2025 (including holiday compensation 9 %):

number of performers 1 concert 1 day = 3 concerts
1 174,40 € 523,20 €
2 141,70 € 425,10 €
3 119,90 € 359,70 €
4 119,90 € 359,70 €
5 119,90 € 359,70 €

The employer can pay a daily allowance for travel time if the destination is more than 15 kilometers away from either your residence or your regular workplace. The duration of the work trip affects the amount of the daily allowance. You can find detailed instructions on daily allowances and mileage reimbursements on the Tax Administration’s website: Vero.fi

Fees for public concerts are agreed upon on a case-by-case basis. The performing group and the client negotiate the price for public concerts between themselves. Concert Centre Finland invoices the agreed price from the client and pays the performers the same amount in fees, including employer contributions. A public concert refers to concerts where the audience does not consist of kindergarten or school audiences.

The fee for a 45-minute workshop is €55 and for a 90-minute workshop is €110 (for the school year 2024–2025).

The fee includes vacation compensation (9%) and employer contributions according to Concert Centre’s payment percentage.

Honorarium payments

After the concert tour, either You or Your company sends Concert Centre an invoice. The invoice must cover honorarium, vacation fee, domestic per diem, travel reimbursements such as flights, taxis and fuel costs. Only the total amount of the invoice is placed on the main page. On the second page, please specify the payments.

Concert Centre will required an A1 certificate from You. The A1 certificate is personal and cannot be applied by another. Therefore no employer’s fee or any other insurance reimbursements can be added to the invoice.

An A1 certificate is a document that states in which country a worker’s social insurance premiums are paid. You are covered by the social security system in Your home state while working in another EU/EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom. Without an A1 certificate You or Your company’s worker’s cannot work in another country.

Concert Centre will withhold a tax-at-source of 15 % from the honorarium, when You stay in Finland less than 6 months. You don’t need to make any statements on the invoice, it will automatically be withheld from Your payment.

If you are a foreign artist and you either perform or participate in an event in Finland, the honorarium you receive is usually subject to Finnish tax.

Notice! If you are a theatre director, choreographer, set designer, coach or something like these, you are not treated as a performing artist in taxation. For these workers the tax-at-source rate is 35 %.

When you receive a payment for your performance, the honorarium is subject to 15% of tax-at-source in Finland. The payment may be honorarium or other income. Tax at source is withheld even if the payment is routed to an overseas event agency or other foreign organization.

You cannot make tax deductions from the payment. For example, you cannot deduct the amount you have paid to your agent. Even though you cannot make deductions from the payment, Concert Centre can usually pay you tax-exempt reimbursement for the following costs:

  • accommodation reimbursements
  • travel reimbursements
  • freight charges

Receipts for the expenses are required! In addition, your employer may pay you a tax-exempt per diem, which is equal to the domestic per diem.

The tax-at-source is a final tax, so you do not need to file a tax return in Finland. Concert Centre gives you a pay slip that specifies your income and the tax-at-source withheld on your income. Keep the pay slip for future use: it may be needed in your home country’s tax assessment for the elimination of double taxation.

Notice: When You stay in Finland for more than 6 months – Your tax rate depends on Your income.

If you stay in Finland for more than 6 months, you will be considered a Finnish tax resident. You will be taxed progressively, and the tax rate depends on your annual income. In these cases, you should apply for a tax card from the tax office.

The billing address

The billing address is Konserttikeskus ry, Runeberginkatu 4 A C 9, 00100 Helsinki

E-invoices are, however, momently not possible from abroad. The invoicing company or business name defines the due date. The payment term should preferably be 14 days net, but at least 7 days.

The invoices and supporting documents will be sent to the financial manager of Concert Centre stephan.keskinen@konserttikeskus.fi

Substitutes on tours

Concert Centre Finland needs information about all band members who are on tour. Substitutes are only used in exceptional situations, such as in cases of illness. The substitute must be notified to the Concert Centre without delay, so that all performers are insured during the tour, school contact persons are informed of the correct line-up, and the Concert Centre has the correct information for salary payment, accommodation and statistics.

Illness

The performer is entitled to receive 50% of the fees if the illness occurs after the tour has started. If a band member falls ill after the tour has started and others cannot continue it, they also receive 50% of the fee. If the illness occurs before the tour, the performers are not entitled to compensation.

Please note that the invoicing entrepreneur is not entitled to compensation in cases of illness.

Accidents

If the performer has an accident during the tour, he/she/them should see a doctor as soon as possible. In acute emergency cases, the performer can apply to any doctor or hospital. Primarily, we recommend applying to Pihlajalinna’s or Terveystalo’s emergency room. In connection with the doctor’s visit, the name of the employer (Konserttikeskus ry) and the insurance company (OP Pohjola) must be stated.‍

Please report the accident with additional information to the Concert Centre as soon as possible. According to the law, the employer must report an occupational accident or occupational disease within 10 business days after the matter has become known to the employer.

Please provide the following information as soon as possible to Concert Centre Finland:

  • Details of the injured employee: name, personal identification number, and contact information
  • Date and time of the incident
  • Location of the accident (address)
  • A detailed description of the accident (injuries sustained, description of what happened)

Teosto reports and copyrights

Performing groups must submit their program details of their concerts directly to Teosto (Music copyright association). The organizer should always be the municipality where the concert is held.

Please note that Concert Centre Finland is not responsible for other copyright payments, such as performance rights.