In the future, we will send support applicants and support recipients a regular survey to chart the diversity of projects.
Why is AVEK sending this survey to both support applicants and support recipients?
With regard to diversity, we aim to find out what kinds of applications we have received and what kinds of applications we have approved. The survey results will not affect our principles of granting support – we are now only surveying the current situation.
AVEK aims to ensure that we do not realise any unconscious bias in our decisions, but allocate support to applicants as equally as possible based on our decision criteria. As such, we are sending the survey to both support applicants and support recipients so that we can analyse the proportion of the applications and support decisions.
What does AVEK mean by ‘diversity’ in the survey?
The survey includes questions about the age, gender and potential minority background of the authors and main characters. We aim to chart how many authors and main characters have a minority background and how capable we are of taking minorities into consideration in our decision-making without access to background information.
You can also answer all questions with ‘Don’t want to say.’
Why does the survey include questions about the authors’ minority background?
AVEK wants to support the diversity and inclusivity of the audiovisual industry by promoting different authors’ operating conditions and entry to the industry.
Why does the survey include questions about the minority background of fictional/documentary characters?
It is important that films, TV shows and other audiovisual works reflect the diversity of society and show different kinds of people and tell their stories.
With the survey, we aim to analyse to which extent the diversity of society can be seen in terms of main characters in the works of those applying for support from us and receiving support from us. The survey includes questions about the age, gender and potential minority background of the authors and main characters.
How will the survey results be used?
The survey will be responded to anonymously, and the responses will be processed and analysed by the Kopiosto research team, who will provide an annual summary of the results to AVEK.
With regard to diversity, we aim to find out what kinds of applications we have received and approved. The survey results will not affect our principles of granting support – we are only surveying the current situation.
We can draw conclusions based on the survey in a year, at the earliest, once we get the first report of the survey results. AVEK aims to ensure that we do not realise any unconscious bias in our decisions, but allocate support to applicants as equally as possible based on our decision criteria.
How will the survey affect the support decisions?
The survey will not affect the support decisions. The responses to the survey will be anonymous, and the responses will never be connected to applications. The responses will be processed and analysed by the Kopiosto research team, who will provide an annual summary of the results to the support decision-makers and other members of AVEK.
Will AVEK support no one but minority applicants from now on?
AVEK wants to support applicants equally and transparently. AVEK’s decision criteria and support decisions (in Finnish) can be seen on our website. For example, the topic or main character of a project alone do not constitute decision criteria.
The responses to the survey will be anonymous, and the responses will never be connected to applications.
What is the financer’s responsibility in matters of equality within the audiovisual industry?
The financer influences what kinds of works are produced in Finland, and thus also assumes social responsibility for matters of equality and non-discrimination.
AVEK aims to ensure that we do not realise any unconscious bias in our decisions, but allocate support to applicants as equally as possible based on our decision criteria. As a responsible operator, we would like to study where we currently are regarding this goal. The survey is one way of taking responsibility in our operations regarding equality.