The next call for exhibitions will take place in 1 – 30 April 2026, offering exhibition slots for autumn 2027, from August to December. Exhibitions are selected through peer review based on an open call, and applications must be submitted via an online form by the deadline. Please familiarise yourself with the ‘How to Apply’ section further down the page and ensure your application follows the requested format. Image portfolios or materials submitted in other formats may not be considered.

Holding an exhibition at Photographic Gallery Hippolyte

Photographic Gallery Hippolyte is located in the centre of Helsinki, next to Diana Park. The gallery is maintained by the Association of Photographic Artists. Hippolyte has two exhibition spaces:

• Photographic Gallery Hippolyte (approx. 72 m²) – a large, high-ceiling exhibition space.
• Hippolyte Studio (approx. 13 m²) – an intimate space with a controlled sound environment.

There is an open connection from the large exhibition space to the office of the association’s staff located on the mezzanine. This should be considered when planning the soundscape of the artworks. The gallery space cannot be completely darkened. Any sounds from the artworks displayed in the Studio should be directed to headphones. A curtain can be installed at the entrance to the Studio. At the bottom of the page, you will find images of both spaces, floor plans with measurements, and 3D renderings.

The duration of an exhibition period is typically 4-5weeks, including the days for installing, dismantling, and the opening reception. The gallery is open Tue–Fri from 12:00 to 17:00 and Sat–Sun from 12:00 to 16:00, excluding public holidays and the month of July when the gallery is closed.

Exhibitions are selected through peer review twice a year, in April and October. On average, the gallery receives 200 applications per year, and exhibition slots are allocated approximately 1.5 years in advance.

Who can apply

All professional practitioners, artists, artist groups, and curators can apply with a ready-made exhibition concept. Photography plays an important role in the exhibition programme, so proposals are expected to have a connection to photographic art or the extended field of photography more than just superficially.

An applicant may be granted a new exhibition slot when minimum of 5 years have passed, between the previous exhibition and the applied-for exhibition slot. We welcome a diverse range of applicants and encourage you to submit an exhibition proposal, whether you are at the beginning of your career or an experienced artist.

Once selected, the artist agrees not to hold a solo exhibition with the same content in the Helsinki metropolitan area during the 12 months preceding the exhibition and throughout its duration.

Exhibition fees and gallery services

From 2025 the exhibition space has been rent-free for all artists. The Association of Photographic Artists strives to promote good and sustainable exhibition practices, ensuring that the space remains free of charge for artists while also providing an exhibition fee. However, the rental status of the exhibition space is determined annually based on funding decisions. If the association’s funding and other revenue sources remain unchanged, the space will continue to be rent-free.

The maximum rental fees below apply to the exhibition times currently available:

Members of the Association of Photographic Artists 

• Photographic Gallery Hippolyte: €650
• Hippolyte Studio: €280
• Both spaces: €930

Non-members:

• Photographic Gallery Hippolyte: €1000
• Hippolyte Studio: €280
• Both spaces: €1280

The exhibition rent includes invigilation and visitor tracking during the exhibition, staff support with exhibition planning, assistance on installation and deinstallation days, opening reception with non-alcoholic beverages, documentation and media coverage, press and other contacts, and gallery tours. The staff will participate in the planning and organisation of any associated activities in collaboration with the exhibitor.  

The rent also covers communication and publicity, including poster layout and printing, editing and proofreading of exhibition text and artwork list in collaboration with the exhibitor, translation work (Swedish, English), sending electronic invitations to Hippolyte’s mailing lists, promotion on Hippolyte’s website, separate event calendars, and social media.

 The exhibitor is responsible for installing the artworks, transport and insurance of the artworks, personal travel expenses, any AV equipment, associated installation costs, and technical support. The gallery does not have AV equipment or media players.

Both spaces are equipped with gallery-grade spotlights, and in the larger space, there are also fluorescent tube lights on the ceiling and along the upper and lower parts of the walls.

The Association of Photographic Artists charges a 30% commission on the sale of artworks and associated materials. Selected works will also be available for sale via the association’s online shop (shop.hippolyte.fi) for a period of up to three months after the exhibition.

You can familiarise yourself with the exhibition practices in more detail here. Upon selection, the artist agrees to adhere to the gallery’s working practices.

How to apply

Applications must be submitted via the electronic form by the deadline. We do not accept applications via email or post. Late applications will not be considered. With one application, you can apply for either the Gallery, Studio, or both (i.e. the entire space). The application must be directed to one of these spaces.

The electronic form must include the exhibition application, with the following sections uploaded as a single PDF file (max. 10 pages):

• A concise exhibition plan: 1 A4 page, presenting the exhibition idea and practical implementation
• Images (max. 10) supporting the overall exhibition concept. This might include images from previous works or other images (sketches)
• A condensed curriculum vitae

The exhibition concept and elaboration of content are essential parts of the application. The application text should clarify the proposed exhibition’s relationship to photographic art or the extended field of photography, especially when it is not obvious. Additionally, the application should include, if possible, the names of the planned artworks, their completion years, dimensions, techniques, and any other information supporting the understanding of the exhibition as a whole. If the exhibition proposal includes moving images, the application is expected to contain a link to either a sample or the entire artwork.

Please also mention in your application if you already know or have planned that the proposed exhibition will be presented elsewhere in the Helsinki metropolitan area. We hope to include in our exhibition program works that have not been previously shown in the Helsinki metropolitan area.

NOTE: Attachments should be submitted as a single PDF file. Files can be combined into PDF format here. Name the file: surname_firstname. The maximum file size for attachment is 8 MB. If any of the requested attachments are missing or if the application is significantly incomplete, it will not be evaluated.

The Association of Photographic Artists requests permission for the processing of personal data in connection with the exhibition application. Personal data will not be disclosed to members of the exhibition committee or third parties. The information will be deleted after the exhibition application process is completed and the exhibition selections are confirmed.

Applications are submitted through an online form. The application closes 30 April 23:59 (EEST).
Note! Please carefully review the content of this page and the application instructions before submitting your application. You can submit the application only once.

Processing of applications

Applications are processed by a 3–5-member exhibition committee, composed of members of the Association of Photographic Artists who are selected by the board of the association. In addition, two guest assessors are invited to participate in the evaluation of applications: a rotating member and an expert outside of the association. All individuals involved in the evaluation work are subject to impartiality practices.

The entire year’s exhibition programme is evaluated as a whole, considering any exhibitions that may have already been selected. The committee is responsible for curating a programme that showcases photographic art in various techniques, with diverse contributors represented as much as possible. The evaluation is guided by the values and strategy of the Association of Photographic Artists, as well as the Equality and non-discrimination plan 2021–2024 of the Finnish Artists’ Association.

All applicants are personally notified of the exhibition committee’s decision via email or text message. Decisions for the spring season are aimed to be communicated before Midsummer, and decisions for the autumn season are communicated by Christmas.

Also, familiarise yourself with the Frequently Asked Questions content, which provides answers to common questions related to exhibition applications!

Photos of the spaces at Hippolyte:

Hippolyte galleries in 3D (click the image to download the files from Dropbox):

Hippolyte floor plan:

Further information:
Exhibition Coordinator Anna Airaksinen
+358 (0)50 379 9036, anna.airaksinen [at] hippolyte.fi