Open Call 2026 - COOPERATION
Oksasenkatu 11 Gallery opens an open call for artists, artist groups and curators for the year 2026.
Theme: Cooperation
Call for proposals open: April 15 – May 16, 2025
The theme for Oksasenkatu 11 Gallery's 2026 program is Cooperation. We welcome proposals from artists who are interested in working together and sharing the space with artists they do not yet know. We are not looking for completed exhibition plans — instead, the application process is based on a portfolio and a motivation letter (more information below). The gallery’s curators will form duos and groups from the selected applicants.
Curators may also apply. Curator applicants are required to submit an exhibition plan or concept that describes how the theme of collaboration will be reflected in the exhibition’s process and working methods.
We aim to support experimentation and a questioning approach to artistic work — the kind that can emerge from encounters with strangers, new forms of collaboration, and the unknown nature of the outcome. We want to create space for mistakes, sharing, playfulness, unfinishedness, slow working, and new types of processes.
We encourage artists to explore new kinds of collaboration — to plan, think, and build exhibitions together, and to try out new working methods across disciplines and with unfamiliar collaborators.
The open call is curated by Athanasía Aarniosuo, Jenna Jauhiainen, Lauri Antti Mattila, and Julius Valve.
Practical Information
The gallery space is free of charge, but selected artists are expected to supervise the exhibition themselves. Applicants may be individuals, artist pairs, or groups (multidisciplinary working groups are also welcome). Please note that group applicants may also be paired with other applicants to form collaborative teams. You may also propose an event or a series of events. Artists and curators will receive a small fee for their exhibition or event, which also includes a modest amount for installation costs. The exact fee depends on the number of participating artists.
If you are forming a group, consider inviting artists you don’t yet know — those you’ve dreamed of working with but don’t yet have a plan for.
There are eight available exhibition slots for 2026: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, and October. Each exhibition period lasts 4 weeks, including installation and deinstallation. Applications are submitted via portfolio and a motivation letter (form provided).
Oksasenkatu 11 is a non-commercial gallery for experimental art. The open call is intended for professional artists. Selection will be based on the proposal’s relevance and connection to the theme. The entire gallery space is available for use. Collaborative teams will decide how to share and use the space — we do not accept applications specifically for the upstairs or downstairs spaces. Curator applicants are expected to plan for the full space.
Each collaboration will have e responsible curator from the Oksasenkatu 11 curatorial team to work together with the exhibition artists. Working methods will be agreed upon jointly between the group and the curator. The curator will be involved in the early stages to ensure the process gets off to a good start and can also facilitate the process if needed.
Events and event series can be proposed flexibly for any time during 2026, though we prefer timing them around the turn of the month.
Gallery Space / Technical Info
Three sculpture pedestals
Two video projectors
Two pairs of active speakers
Three media players
Track lighting and individual LED lights
Trade fair carpets and black Molton curtains around the walls of the downstairs space
Basic tools available
The space is adaptable: walls may be painted, and drilling into the walls and ceiling is allowed
Accessibility Information
Unfortunately, the space is not accessible. There is a 3 cm high threshold at the entrance, followed by four steps with no ramp. The front door is 85 cm wide. Access to the downstairs space is via a steep spiral staircase. There is no elevator, and the toilet at street level is small and not accessible.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Artists:
Fill out the APPLICATION FORM and send your attachments via email. Use the subject line and file name format: OC_2026_yourname/groupname. Send your attachments as a single PDF file (max. 5MB) to: galleria.oksasenkatu11@gmail.com.
You can find the application form from HERE.
Your application must include:
Completed form including a motivation letter (max. 2000 characters). The letter can be free-form or respond to questions such as: What kind of idea of collaboration inspires you? What you'd like to explore, how you'd approach it, and from what perspective.
Samples of previous work: a link to an online portfolio/website, image attachments, or links to video/audio samples
CV of the individual or group
Curators:
Apply via email. Use the subject line and file name format: OC_2026_curating_yourname/groupname. Send your application as a single PDF file (max. 5MB) to: galleria.oksasenkatu11@gmail.com.
Your application must include:
Exhibition proposal, max. one A4 page (11pt font), with optional images attached. The proposal must describe how your idea relates to the theme of collaboration.
Time preferences: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, or October. Please mark all suitable options. Curators have access to the full gallery space. Events and event series can be proposed for any time in 2026, but we prefer scheduling them around the turn of the month so they can align with exhibition changes.
Samples of previous work: a link to an online portfolio/website, image attachments, or links to video/audio samples
CV of the individual or group
Submit your application by Friday, May 16, 2025, at 11:59 PM.
Applicants will be notified of the selections by June 20, just before Midsummer.