Helsinki Biennial promotes international recognition of Finnish contemporary art
Helsinki Biennial is a joint project for the City of Helsinki and part of the Helsinki City Strategy. The biennial aims to enhance Helsinki’s appeal as an art city and to increase international recognition of the Finnish art scene.
“The goal of HAM and the City of Helsinki is to establish Helsinki Biennial as one of the most well-known biennials in the world. We aim to make the event a long-lasting phenomenon that attracts audiences to experience art in the archipelago nature of maritime Helsinki,” says Arja Miller, the director of HAM and Helsinki Biennial.
A €900,000 grant from the Jane and Aatos Erkko Foundation for 2025–2027 will help accelerate Helsinki Biennial’s international visibility and profile. The grant is directed towards strengthening international networks and promoting global visibility of the Finnish art scene.
Helsinki Biennial Preview brings international visual arts professionals together
Organised before the biennial’s opening days, on 6–8 June, Helsinki Biennial Preview brings visual arts professionals from the international and Finnish art scenes together. The programme will be organised in collaboration with Helsinki’s art institutions and Frame Contemporary Art Finland, an expert organisation in contemporary art. Frame will also invite a group of international curators and other art museum and biennial representatives to join the programme.
“Helsinki Biennial is a great opportunity to showcase Finland’s diverse and high-quality contemporary art scene to international professionals. The collaboration fits well with Frame’s role as a promoter of international networks and work opportunities for Finnish contemporary art professionals,” says Frame’s CEO Juha Huuskonen.
The professional programme includes a diverse range of exhibitions, discussions, and events, delving into the themes of the biennial through guided tours and meetings with artists and curators. The event is also a great opportunity to network, exchange ideas, and gain inspiration from new artistic approaches. The programme brings together Helsinki’s art institutions, such as museums and galleries, offering visitors a comprehensive overview of the city’s artistic scene.
Photo: Helsinki Biennial / HAM / Sonja Hyytiäinen. Curatorial School of May: Mapping the belonging. Curated and facilitated by Clément Beraud. Helsinki Biennial 2023, Vallisaari Island.