Submission Deadline: Tuesday 10.3.2026 23:59

Location: The Blue Verve, Neitsytpolku 8, Helsinki, Finland

Exhibition Dates: 19.3-29.3.2026

Submission Fee: No submission fee

Participation Fee: €70 for 1 artwork, €120 for 2 artworks, €150 for 3 artworks

Sales Commission: 20%

Discount 20% for art school/university students, Fun Design members, and HIAA members

This open call addresses the moments when artistic practice does not progress - when it contracts, stalls, or turns against itself.

We are looking for works that emerge from restlessness, aggression, exhaustion, or lack of motivation. Works shaped by creative paralysis. Works made during periods of doubt, burnout, repetition, or collapse of confidence.

In psychology, rollback describes a movement backward under pressure - a return to earlier patterns when stability fractures. In artistic practice, this can mean revisiting insecurities believed resolved, being stuck in repetition, or losing access to a visual language that once felt secure.

The art field rewards momentum, clarity, and output. It measures growth through visibility and consistency. Breakdown turns toward what interrupts that trajectory.

What happens when the artwork doesn’t move forward?

What form does doubt take?

When does the studio become a place of frustration instead of creation?

When regression replaces progress?

We invite submissions that hold these conditions without polishing them into resolution. Incomplete works. Failed attempts. Repetitions. Works marked by hesitation, irritation, resistance, or halted energy.

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Eligibility:​

• Artists working in painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, textile, mixed media, performance, and installation (sculpture, video, and sound are considered if the artist has the required equipment)

• Both emerging and established artists are encouraged to apply

• Open to artists based in Finland and internationally

• All works must be original and provided for the exhibition on the agreed installation date, ready-to-hang / install

Selected Artists Will Receive:

• Participation in a professionally curated exhibition at The Blue Verve Gallery

• Exhibition in a prime location within Helsinki’s Design District

• Promotion through our gallery’s PR and communication channels

• Sales support during and 30 days after the exhibition

• A professionally produced opening event hosted by the gallery, including guest invitations and onsite coordination

• Documentation and inclusion in the gallery’s exhibition archive

Submission Guidelines:

Please submit the following materials:

• Artist bio (max 150 words)

• Artist statement, related to the exhibition theme (max 150 words)

• CV

• Up to 3 artworks (images, videos, documentation), with title, year, dimensions, medium, weight, and price (if for sale)

• We encourage applicants to express their own ideas and artistic vision in all materials. While you may use AI tools (such as ChatGPT) as a reference or for drafting, please ensure that your submission has your personal voice and genuine thoughts. Overly relying on AI-generated text will affect how your application is evaluated.

• ​Please make sure that the dimensions and weight of framed artworks are the same as those you stated in the application

• If applying for installations, video/sound works, or performance pieces, please include: a clear description of the work, technical requirements (equipment, space needs, setup time, etc.), and documentation, if available (photos, videos, or links)

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Installation Guidelines:

• Please note that we use wall hooks for hanging, so your artwork mounting system must be suitable for them - ideally, hanging wire

• Please note that artworks should be brought ready-to-mount. If your artwork requires a mounting system installation, a €10 service fee per artwork will be charged.

• If your artwork is framed and the frame is bigger than A3, please remove the glass - we have weight limitations

• Please test the performance of the frame before bringing it for installation - some frames tend to bend while hanging, which creates a safety issue​

• If you are unable to pick up your artwork within one week of the scheduled pickup date, a storage fee of €10 per day per artwork will apply.