Submission Deadline: 1.12.2025 23:59

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

Exhibition Dates: 11.12-21.12.2025

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

December in Finland arrives with its endless nights. The days retreat, the air sharpens, and though the season carries holidays and rituals, it can also feel like the loneliest time of the year. Silence thickens, snow covers the familiar, and the heart begins to long for something near - a hearty presence, a voice, the closeness of another.

Closeness as in the nearness of a hand that does not withdraw, the warmth of another’s breath in the cold, a shared blanket in a dim room, the assurance that we are not entirely alone. Carrying us through the long, dark days, it lives in memory, in moments once shared with someone dear, or in our imagination.

Core themes:

warmth, closeness, hearty presence, sense of belonging, presence of another, longing for comfort, shared moments, connection, happiness, loneliness, support, hope, gestures of care

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Eligibility:​

• Artists working in painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, textile, mixed media, performance, and installation (sculpture, video, and sound are accepted 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 200 words)

• Artist statement, related to the exhibition theme (max 200 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 reflects your personal voice and genuine thoughts. Overly relying on AI-generated text without adaptation may 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

• 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​