The exhibition spaces of the Finnish Museum of Photography are divided into a large exhibition space and the Process space on the first floor, and the permanent Viewfinder exhibition and gallery space on the zero floor. The museum's exhibition space covers 820 square meters on the first floor and 420 square meters on the zero floor.
Planning of exhibitions
The program of temporary exhibitions is divided into three seasons. The program is planned on the basis of an exhibition strategy covering a period of two to three years. The exhibition strategy takes into account both domestic and international artists as well as different genres of photography.
The exhibitions at the Finnish Museum of Photography lie at the intersection of art and culture. The museum presents contemporary Finnish and international photography and highlights the diverse history of photography, photographic culture, and the changes it has undergone. The Museum of Photography's collections are used extensively and meaningfully in the exhibition programme. Out-of-house specialists and curators are consulted in the planning of exhibitions. You can learn more about the museum's exhibition activities from the archive of past exhibitions.
Permanent exhibition Viewfinder. The museum's first ever permanent exhibition, Viewfinder, opened in January 2023 in the museum's new premises on the 0th floor of the Cable Factory. A workshop darkroom was also opened as part of the exhibition. The Viewfinder is a diverse and extensive compilation of photographs, photographers, and those who use photographs.
Exhibitions in the gallery space are selected annually through a thematic open call. The call is open to all lens-based artists: professionals and students in the field. Applications may also be submitted on behalf of a working group.
The Process Space serves as a workshop space for the museum's public outreach work, a seminar space, and an exhibition space for collaborative projects. There is no separate application process for the space.
Highlights from the exhibition strategy
The exhibition strategy guides the work of the exhibition team and outlines the exhibition program. The strategy sets out the key areas of focus for exhibition work, to which special attention is paid. Choices based on the strategy are explained in the exhibition texts and communications.
The exhibition strategy is based on the museum's overall vision: The Finnish Museum of Photographic Art is a socially influential, critical, and open cultural organization dedicated to various phenomena in photography. It promotes ecological, social, and cultural sustainability.
Highlights of the exhibition strategy's key areas for the period 2023–2027:
Social discourse and impact form the core of exhibition activities. They examine the relationship between photographic art, photographic culture, and photographers and society, its changes, and structures. The role of photography in society and in individuals' lives, communication, and ways of understanding the world is examined. Consideration is given to how social and ecological sustainability and new technology are reflected in photography.
Equality and diversity are at the heart of our activities, both in terms of artists and approaches.
Emphasis is placed on collaboration in terms of both exhibition themes and practices.
Consider the role of archives and writing history in social change, particularly from the perspective of photography and photography museums.
Shift the focus from solo exhibitions to group exhibitions. Organize more group exhibitions that bring together different artists and audiences around a selected theme.
The exhibition space will feature a wider variety of ways and methods of approaching exhibition themes. The aim is to use books, events, and collection collaboration to bring permanent and temporary practices to the museum space that will diversify and activate the use of the exhibition space.
Internationality of exhibition activities
The museum's internationality is not limited to exhibition imports and exports. Internationality permeates the museum entirely. Internationality is understood as the sharing of knowledge and skills. Through the personal contacts of its staff, the museum is involved in the international art and museum scene. The museum's activities are seen as an integral part of the international photography and museum scene.
In terms of exhibition activities, it is important to follow what photographers around the world are doing and what photography institutions are planning and presenting. This gives the museum a contemporary perspective on its own activities and, as an agile operator, enables it to create international collaborative projects for its exhibition activities. International exhibition cooperation brings interesting content to the museum and enables it to implement the international focus of its operation plan.
International cooperative projects enable the sharing of costs and the application for joint funding. International exhibition activities also increase the visibility and role of the museum as an international actor.
Exhibition team
The exhibition team consists of a chief curator and two curators. The exhibition team plans the exhibition program in close collaboration with the museum director. At regular meetings, exhibition proposals and ideas are reviewed together and choices are made in line with the exhibition strategy's priorities.
The curators' duties include curatorial work as well as various production tasks related to exhibitions. In addition to curatorial and production work, the chief curator is responsible for managing the team, organizing work, monitoring the budget, and participating in the museum's management team.
Twice a year the museum's exhibition team organizes a curator clinic where artists have the opportunity to receive feedback from the team on their work.
