Space for New Art – open call for artists

Three artists will be annually selected for HAM’s Space for New Art through an open call. The open call highlights annually changing themes, unique exhibition content, and the connection created between the artists, exhibitions, and HAM’s audiences. With the introduction of the Space for New Art, HAM aims to enable multidisciplinary, versatile art-making and innovative exhibition concepts. Additionally, HAM wants to provide its audiences with meaningful and surprising encounters with art and artists. HAM will deepen its relationship with artists and collaborate in the exhibitions’ curation and production process.

The first open call for the Space for New Art was held from March 13 to April 7, 2025. Through this call, we selected three exhibition projects for the season starting in June 2026. A total of 188 applications were received.

The selection panel consisted of performance and theatre artist and doctoral candidate Tuomas Laitinen, HAM curators Heli Harni, Sanna Juntunen, Milja Liimatainen and Satu Metsola, HAM head of exhibitions Kati Kivinen and HAM director Arja Miller.

The next open call for the Space for New Art will be held in early 2027.

The first open call

In the first call, the focus was on exhibition plans that enliven art exhibition through performative and/or audience-engaging methods. The proposed exhibition should include a performative element that the audience can engage with during the entire exhibition or at an event related to it. The exhibition must also be an attractive experience itself.

HAM wants to explore and support performative elements in the exhibition context and art’s influence on the viewer’s body and mind.

Successful applications were expected to introduce new, exceptional art, demonstrate a willingness to challenge traditional practices of creating art, and readiness to interact with our audiences.