Frame Contemporary Art Finland invites proposals for the Pavilion of Finland at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia in 2026.
Frame Contemporary Art Finland is seeking project proposals for the Aalto Pavilion of Finland, located in the Giardini venue at the Venice Biennale. We are looking forward to a wide range of concise exhibition proposals that take into consideration the scale of the Pavilion space and the timeline: the project will be presented as an exhibition at the Pavilion of Finland from April to November 2026.
The team submitting the proposal has to include at least one artist and one curator. The proposal must include one or more artists who are Finnish or based in Finland.
The deadline for the proposals is 18 August 2024. After assessment, the jury will invite a maximum of 5 applicants to develop their proposals further.
The exhibition in the Pavilion of Finland is commissioned and produced by Frame Contemporary Art Finland. Venice Biennale, founded in 1895 and held biannually, is the oldest and one of the most prestigious international forums for presenting contemporary art. Commissioning and producing the exhibition for the Aalto Pavilion of Finland, designed by architect Alvar Aalto in 1956, is Frame’s most extensive international project. Venice Art Biennale attracts around 800,000 visitors.
The upcoming exhibition in 2026 is a collaboration with the Oulu2026 European Capital of Culture, and it will be presented also in the city of Oulu, Finland as part of the Oulu2026 programme.
Application guidelines
Who can apply?
Proposals should be submitted by a team minimum of two people including an artist or artists working together with a curator or curators. The curator and the artist can be an individual or a workgroup.
What are the requirements?
1. Concept: We are looking for a concise and compelling exhibition concept that is relevant to the current international art scene and the context of the Venice Biennale. The proposal should be a maximum of 3 pages.
2. Artist: The project must include an artist or artists with a relevant and high-quality artistic practice. The proposal must include one or more artists who are Finnish or based in Finland. The artist(s) must have exhibition experience in Finland and/or internationally.
3. Curator: The project must include a curator with experience in curating international exhibitions and managing complex projects, budget control and project reporting, and who is committed to realising the project within the agreed schedule and participating in meetings with the artist(s) and the commissioner.
4. Venue: The project implementation must be feasible considering the specific physical features of the Pavilion of Finland and the 7-month duration of the exhibition. Find the link to the floorplan and images of the Pavilion at the end of the announcement.
5. Budget: A budget attachment for the project will be requested only in the second phase of the application process. The applicants should still note that the budget for the project’s artistic realisation is approximately 100 000 euros, including all costs (production, fees, installation, etc). The proposed concept should be feasible with a budget of this scale.
6. Application must be submitted in English.
Frame is committed to sustainable exhibition practices in the Pavilion of Finland project and reducing the environmental impacts of our operations.
What is the procedure?
The open call process is two-phased:
The proposals can be submitted between 4 June and 18 August 2024.
- After assessment, the jury will invite a maximum of 5 applicants to develop their proposals further. The selected applicants will receive a fee of 1,000 euros.
- Shortlisted applicants must submit a detailed plan in November 2024.
- Shortlisted applicants will personally present their proposals to the jury in December 2024.
- The selected project for the Pavilion of Finland at the Venice Biennale 2026 will be published in early 2025.
Changes may apply. All submitted concepts will be treated confidentially.
The jury members
Charles Esche, Director, Van Abbemuseum, The Netherlands
Asrin Haidari, Curator of Swedish and Nordic Art, Moderna Museet, Sweden
Anna-Riikka Hirvonen, Director, Oulu Art Museum, Finland
Outi Pieski, Artist
Chaired by Juha Huuskonen, Director (1 August 2024 –), Frame Contemporary Art Finland
How do I apply?
The proposal shall include in PDF form:
1. A concise description of the exhibition concept (max 6 000 characters or 3 pages), that takes into consideration the exhibition context, pavilion space, and budget. In the first round, the proposals do not need to include a budget attachment.
2. The name, CV and portfolio of the artist(s) or link to the artists(s) webpage.
3. The name and CV of the curator(s).
Name the file: surname_proposal_Venice2026.
Send your proposal to Frame Contemporary Art Finland by 18 August 2024 at 11.59 pm (GMT +2) by email, WeTransfer, or other file-sharing service to the following address: venice2026@frame-finland.fi.
The files should not exceed 10 MB.
Application must be submitted in English.
Materials
Note! Please see frequently asked questions about the call at the end of this page.
Frame Contemporary Art Finland
The exhibition in the Pavilion of Finland is commissioned and produced by Frame Contemporary Art Finland. Frame, an advocate for Finnish contemporary art, supports international initiatives, facilitates professional partnerships, and encourages critical development of the field through grants, visitor programme and residencies, seminars and talks, exhibition collaborations and network platforms.
Oulu2026
Oulu is the European Capital of Culture in 2026. The Capital of Culture year will extend to 39 partner municipalities in northern Finland. The goal is cultural climate change. Cultural climate change means a permanently richer cultural life and transformation for the region. Cultural climate change combines culture, art, and technology in surprising ways, creates encounters, and fosters interaction. The year 2026 provides an opportunity to experience world-class art in the arctic atmosphere and nature.
For more information:
Juha Huuskonen
Commissioner, Director, Frame Contemporary Art Finland
juha.huuskonen@frame-finland.fi
Ellinor Zetterberg
Project Manager, Frame Contemporary Art Finland
ellinor.zetterberg@frame-finland.fi
Please note, that the Frame office is closed due to the holidays in July.
Questions and answers about the open call
During the open call, we have received the following questions, and publish the answers to them. The list will be updated in case more questions are received.
(Updated 5 August 2024)
Q: Can I add images, videos, or renderings in addition to the 6000-character/3 page limit for the exhibition concept?
A: Yes, we ask to keep the text part to a maximum of 6000-characters/3-pages but additional images may be attached.
Q: Do all members of the team have to have a connection to Finland?
A: No, you can apply as long as at least one artist is Finnish or based in Finland.
Q: Can an artist presented previously in the Finnish Pavilion be selected to present in the Pavilion again?
A: Frame’s Board of Directors has decided that an artist who has had a solo or duo show in the Pavilion of Finland in the previous editions (since 2013) cannot be selected to present again. However, if the artist has participated in a group show in the previous editions, it is possible to get selected again. Presenting at the Venice Biennale is a rare opportunity that we wish to offer as many artists as possible.
Q. Should a potential exhibition in Oulu be considered in the concept?
A: You may consider a presentation in Oulu as well, however, this will not be a selection criteria in the first round, and the conditions for the exhibition will be determined later on in the process.
Q: Are there limitations as to the use of the outer walls of the Pavilion?
A: It is not possible to attach anything directly to the outer walls, but the use of the outer walls is possible (i.e. some type of construction will be needed).
Q: What outdoor areas can be used?
A: The gravel areas outside the entrances of the Pavilion can be used for exhibition purposes. However, the public path next to the pavilion cannot be used.
Q: Do we really need a curator?
A: Yes, we require a curator to be involved in the project. The curator has to be individual(s), not e.g. a company.
Q: Can I apply with two different applications, with two different curators?
A: Yes you can, the number of applications is not limited.
Q: Who is in charge of keeping the exhibition open daily?
A: Frame is in charge of managing the daily operations of the exhibition and recruiting invigilators for the Pavilion for the duration of the Biennale.