Recipients of the Work Life Awards 2025 have been announced
The 2025 Arts and Culture Champion Professional -award has been granted to Sanni Virta, and the 2025 Arts and Culture Champion -recognition has been awarded to the Stories from Gaza -campaign (Kertomuksia Gazasta).
In the jury’s reasoning, the importance of courage in advancing equality in the arts and culture sector is emphasized, as well as the power of collective effort within the field.
The winners were selected by an annually rotating jury composed of members of TAKU’s board. This year’s jury consisted of Heikki Myllylahti, Henna Salo, and chair Elsa Ervasti.
Year's Champion Professional
The 2025 Arts and Culture Champion Professional -award has been granted to executive director and cultural producer Sanni Virta.
The jury’s reasoning states, among other things:
"Sanni Virta has emerged as a nationally recognized advocate and influencer for equality within the music industry."
"She has brought forward the voices of disabled musicians, artists, and cultural-sector experts, working to improve their position. She is paving the way for change and at the same time inspiring and encouraging others.”
We need bold, bright, and distinctive figures like Sanni to help improve not only the music industry but also the arts field and society at large.
“In discussions about equality in the music industry, the voice of the disabled minority must also be heard,” Virta emphasizes.
This is a significant group, as disabled people are the world’s largest minority: 1.4 billion people, or 16% of the global population, are disabled (WHO 2025).
Year's Champion Action
The Arts and Culture Champion Act 2025 – honorary mention has been awarded to the Stories from Gaza campaign.
Initiated and coordinated by & Espoo Theatre, the campaign brought together more than 70 Finnish theatres and performing arts organizations to speak with one united voice.
In the words of the jury:
“The campaign is a powerful example of how the arts and cultural sector can serve as a channel for influence and for fostering understanding. At the same time, it highlights the unique ability of art to act as a bridge between people and between different realities.”
This is especially valuable in a time when empathy and collective action are of great importance.
Participating theatres published videos on social media in which they read stories from children in Gaza from the works Här var vårt hus (2024) and A Million Kites (2025). At live events, the texts were also performed for audiences through the combined efforts of different art forms.
The videos, which have received hundreds of thousands of views, can be found on social media under the hashtag #KertomuksiaGazasta #StoriesFromGaza. On Instagram, the campaign’s account is @kertomuksiagazasta.
See the previously awarded professionals and actions (in Finnish) >>
