Finnish Local Government 2004: Cultural Services 2002

The survey focused on the service provision, administration and development of cultural services in Finnish municipalities. The respondents were heads of cultural services, or other management level employees responsible for cultural services. Similar surveys were carried out in 1996 and 1999. Questions covered the services, resources, facilities and staff of cultural services. A number of questions investigated what kind of services and facilities there were, who provided these services, and whether the municipality allocated funds for them. The respondents were also asked about contracted-out services, competitive tendering, and whether their municipalities sold cultural services to other municipalities. They were also asked to name the services that have attracted special attention in their municipalities. Views on recent changes and present state in the cultural services of their municipalities were probed, as well as the ownership of cultural facilities and respondents' satisfaction with them. In relation to management and decision-making, the respondents were asked which elected body was in charge of cultural affairs in their municipalities, its significance, and the respondents' conception of the elected body. They were also asked about their duties and responsibilities as the heads of the cultural affairs departments. Views on the use of client surveys and development policies for the future were explored. The respondents were also asked whether there were any ongoing reforms or experiments related to cultural services in their municipalities. Background variables included the respondent's gender, age, job title, work experience, education, responsibility areas at work, and municipality size.