Instructions
Searching for information in Culture Bank
You can search for creators in the field of culture and art as well as on-demand services such as workshops, performances, and consultancy services. Filtering options are available through the main menu by selecting either “creators” or “services.” Search results can be narrowed down by, for example, location, art form, or target group. The keyword search searches all text content linked to creators and services. You can also use the quick search function available in the main menu. Searching for information in Culture Bank does not require registration.
Registration as a cultural creator
Professional artists, associations and communities in the field of culture and art, as well as arts institutions and companies may register as creators in Culture Bank if they are resident/registered in one of the following regions: Åland, South Karelia, South Ostrobothnia, South Savo, Kanta-Häme, Kymenlaakso, Pirkanmaa, Ostrobothnia, North Karelia, North Ostrobothnia, Päijät-Häme, Satakunta, Uusimaa, and Southwest Finland.
Only by registering can you add and publish information in Culture Bank. The Culture Bank moderator will send you an email once your registration has been approved. Only after approval will your information become publicly visible, and you will be able to add information about the services you offer. You can edit your profile information at any time.
The aim is to approve registrations as quickly as possible, but approval within a certain timeframe cannot be guaranteed. Registration and use of the service are free of charge for creators. You can register only as a single creator at a time, meaning each username is creator-specific. Your registration will be approved by the moderator of your own region. The criteria for approval as a creator can be found here..
To speed up the registration process, you should provide detailed information about your education in the field of culture and art and/or give a sufficient description of your references in the field.
Registration as a creator requires suomi.fi authentication. Choose the authentication method according to the credentials you have available:
- Finnish online banking credentials
- mobile certificate
- hightrust.id mobile app or certificate card
- identification methods from other European countries approved for cross-border authentication in Europe
- Finnish Authenticator app, if you are a foreign national and have enabled the app.
Account activation and login
After you have registered and received approval from the Culture Bank moderator by email, you can activate your account and create a password for future logins.
Adding a new service (creators)
When you add a new service to Culture Bank, the moderator will review the service information and send you a notification of approval by email. Only after approval will the service information be publicly visible. You can also save the service as a draft before submitting it for approval.
Content in Culture Bank must not infringe copyright, and the creator must hold the rights to any images uploaded to the service.
The criteria for service approval can be found here.
language versions and automatic translations (content creators)
In the Culture Bank, you can make use of an automatic, AI-based translation functionality to translate your content.
You can activate automatic translation through your profile, selecting first “My Details” and then the “Settings” tab. Check the box “Active” under “Use automatic AI translation”.
Adding and editing the language versions in your profile can be done through the My Profile interface at “Profile language versions”. If you have activated automatic translations, the AI will translate your profile description and your references automatically into the language of your choice, e.g. into English by selecting “Add English version.” You can edit the AI-derived translation further if you wish. If you edit the Finnish description in your profile, the changes will not automatically be updated into other languages. In this case, you can either edit the translated version by hand to match the changes, or delete the translated version and generate a new translation.
Use the “My Services” tab to administer the different language versions of your content. Click on “Add language version” and select to what language you want to translate the service description. You can edit the language versions by clicking on the “Edit” button.
Request alerts (creators)
As a creator, you can enable a request alert to receive email notifications about new requests for quotation. You can adjust the request alert settings through profile management when logged in. You can cancel all selected notifications using the “clear selections” button.
Your profile’s visitor data (creators)
As a creator, you can view your profile’s visitor data. You can see how many visitors your page has had, as well as the number of contacts and recommendations you have received. Visitor data can also be viewed on a monthly basis. You can view visitor data through profile management when logged in.
Sending a recommendation request (creators)
Purchasers can write written recommendations for creators, which are published on the creator’s profile page after moderation. You can also send a recommendation request to your customer through profile management. The recommendation request will be sent to the recipient by email.
Reporting received orders (creators)
If you wish, you can report orders you have received through Culture Bank to the service administrators. Submitting this information is voluntary, and it helps us improve the service. You can submit a report through profile management.
Registration as a purchaser
Any individual or organisation requiring cultural or artistic services may register as a purchaser. Purchaser profiles will not be publicly visible in Culture Bank. A registered purchaser can create favourites lists, publish open requests for quotation, and leave recommendations for creators. Your name and organisation will only be displayed in connection with requests for quotation and recommendations. You may also choose to appear in the service under your organisation’s name only. Registration and use of the service are free of charge for purchasers.
Registration as a purchaser requires suomi.fi authentication. Choose the authentication method according to the credentials you have available:
- Finnish online banking credentials
- mobile certificate
- hightrust.id mobile app or certificate card
- identification methods from other European countries approved for cross-border authentication in Europe
- Finnish Authenticator app, if you are a foreign national and have enabled the app.
Publishing a request for quotation (purchasers)
Through the online service, purchasers can publish open requests for quotation, which are visible to all registered users. You can add a request for quotation through profile management when logged in. A published request for quotation will be visible to Culture Bank users until the selected date. You can edit the information of a request for quotation on your profile page at any time. You can also delete a request for quotation.
Service alerts (purchasers)
As a purchaser, you can enable a service alert to receive email notifications about new on-demand services. You can adjust the service alert settings through profile management when logged in. You can cancel all selected notifications using the “clear selections” button.
Ordering services
Culture Bank is not an online store, but you can contact creators directly through the service. Creators and purchasers always agree on orders and related details directly between themselves, outside of Culture Bank. Cultural creators are themselves responsible for the content, accuracy of information, marketing, and sale of their services.
Responsibility for content
Each creator registered in the service is responsible that the information they provide is appropriate and up to date. The Culture Bank administrator is responsible only for ensuring that information regarding its own services and materials it has produced for Culture Bank is accurate, up to date, and compliant with copyrights. The administrator is not responsible for ensuring that the creators’ information is accurate or up to date. Read more about the service’s terms of use.
Questions and feedback
You can send feedback, questions, and development suggestions related to Culture Bank using the feedback form. If you notice inappropriate information or images in the service, please report them immediately to the administrator so that the material can be removed. Do not send the administrator inquiries or orders regarding services listed in Culture Bank; always contact the creator directly.