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.
Open call 2026: I Desire!
The application period for the second exhibition round at Space for New Art was 5 February 2026 – 1 March 2026. We selected three exhibition projects for the season beginning in June 2027. We received a total of 184 applications. The chosen artists or artist groups will be announced during autumn 2026.
The selection jury included Zodiak – Center for New Dance’s artistic director Jarkko Partanen and HAM’s exhibition curators Heli Harni, Milja Liimatainen and Sanna Juntunen, collection curator Kati Nenonen and public art curator Miina Pohjolainen, as well as public work producer Aino Mäntyvaara. The final decision was made together with HAM director Arja Miller and chief curator Kati Kivinen.
We invited exhibition proposals that would explore sensuality and embodiment, particularly through the lens of love, passion, and desire. We warmly encouraged submissions that would approach these themes also from queer perspectives. How can contemporary art engage with desire as a fundamental human force, and what emotional responses might it awaken in viewers?
We were seeking proposals featuring new, previously unrealised work that would challenge established artistic practices and actively engage audiences.
The next open call for the Space for New Art will be held in early 2027.
Open call 2025
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, and following three were selected:
- KOKIMO: Tablescape 29.5.–23.8.2026
- Antti Tolvi, 25.9.2026–10.1.2027
- MSL (Antti Jussila and Jade Kallio), February – April 2027
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.
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.