Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation is a private, general purpose Finnish cultural foundation and was established in 1942 by a seacaptain, a shipowner and industrialist Antti Wihuri and his wife Jenny.
The purpose of the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation is to promote and support cultural and economic development in Finland. The wording is not overly specific and so a wide range of activities are possible. The Foundation fulfills its purpose by distributing grants and awards and otherwise by giving financial aid to activities, thus furthering the cultural and economic life of the country.
Distributes grants and awards annually on Antti Wihuri's birthday, October 9th. In 2004, 7,000,000 euros were distributed to various associations and individual scientists and artists.
The Wihuri Research Institute (WRI) (www.wri.fi) was founded in 1944. It works to create conditions for Finnish scientists considered to be especially talented in the fields of natural sciences, medicine or technology to devote themselves entirely to their research. The WRI has become widely known in medical circles for its work on diseases of the heart and circulatory system. Contacts with researchers overseas are extensive.
Since 1957 the Foundation has assembled an important and valuable collection of Finnish art. The collection has been donated to the City of Rovaniemi (www.rovaniemi.fi) and named as the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation Art Collection. It contains more than 2, 300 works of art and, guided by experts, the foundation continues to purchase the work of living Finnish artists.
Established in 1953 with capital donated by Antti Wihuri, the founder of the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation, the foundation promotes and sustains the cultural and economic development of society through international prizes in recognition of creative work. These include the Wihuri Sibelius Prize, awarded to prominent composers who have become internationally known and acknowledged. These prizes may be awarded to private individuals or organisations regardless of nationality, religion, race or language. The foundation shares the same Board of Trustees and Executive Director as the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation.