Helsinki Analog Festival 2026 is organised by the Finnish Darkroom Association, a non-profit organisation. The Analog Practice Exhibition will take place as part of the Helsinki Analog Festival 2026 in Helsinki, Finland.

By submitting your work to the Helsinki Analog Festival 2026 Open Call, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the Terms and Conditions listed below.

Submissions

• The Helsinki Analog Festival 2026 invites artists worldwide to apply for the Analog Practice Exhibition. Group projects are welcome. All participants must be at least 18 years old at the time of submission.

• Proposed artworks must be created using analog, traditional processes, employing manual, non-digital techniques and physical media rather than digital tools such as computers, tablets, or software. The artist works directly with materials, often producing unique characteristics and imperfections that are valued as part of the artistic expression. Each piece is typically one-of-a-kind or produced in limited editions. While some digital steps are allowed, the final work must rely primarily on analog methods.

• Submissions can include photography, film, installation, music, books, performance, and similar practices that engage with analog or material processes. Works based primarily on painting, drawing, or other traditional fine art media that do not involve an analog or mechanical process are not eligible.

• In the project description, please describe the project's concept, production methods, and any relevant practical or conceptual details, including installation guidelines. You may also include installation images as part of your submission.

• Submitted projects must have been created recently (from 2020 onward).

• The theme for 2026 is BODY. Works relating to embodiment and physical experience are particularly welcome.

• Submissions to the Open Call are accepted only as digital image files through Picter. Late or non-compliant submissions will not be considered.

• The entry fee for the Open Call is 20€ per submission. The fee is non-refundable and payable by credit card via Stripe. Collected entry fees will be used to reimburse selected artists for exhibition-related expenses. Applicants requiring financial support to cover the fee are encouraged to contact info@helsinkianalogfestival.com.

• Applicants must provide accurate information and, if selected, high-quality digital images and any additional material requested by the organisers.

• If you wish to submit multiple projects, each project must be submitted separately, and a fee of 20€ must be paid for each submission. Each submission should represent one specific and coherent project. We encourage you to focus on presenting your strongest work.

• Projects may be works in progress, but we recommend submitting completed projects. Selected works must be finalised and delivered to the Finnish Darkroom Association by 1 March 2026.

Judging and Curatorial Process

• We seek artists demonstrating strong engagement with analog and handmade practices in today's digital age, for exhibition at Photographic Gallery Hippolyte during the Helsinki Analog Festival 2026.

• All judging will take place online via Picter. The first stage will be conducted anonymously, with the jury viewing only the submitted images and project descriptions.

• Approximately ten projects will be selected. Selected artists will be contacted in January 2026 with further information. Once the artists' participation is confirmed, the exhibition curators, in collaboration with the artists, will determine the final selection and presentation of works at Photographic Gallery Hippolyte.

• The results of the Open Call and the selected artists will be announced on social media at the beginning of 2026.

• The jury's decision is final and non-appealable. Details of the jurying process will not be disclosed, and the organisers reserve the right to reject entries without discussion or refund of the submission fee.

Before, during and after the exhibition

• If selected for the exhibition, it is the responsibility of the artist to produce, insure and deliver the selected works ready-to-hang by 1st of March, 2026. If the hanging of the works requires special arrangements, please explain in detail in the project description of your submission. 

• The artist will sign a contract with the Finnish Darkroom Association regarding the terms of the loan, delivery and exhibition of their works at the gallery. 

• Selected artists may be reimbursed for expenses of 500 euros, including production or transportation costs, by the Finnish Darkroom Association. Payments will be made upon submission of the artist's expense documentation for participants within the EU/SEPA area. For participants outside this area, payments will be processed where possible.

• If a selected artist wishes to attend the festival, HAF encourages sustainable travel practices. Whenever possible, avoid flying and using private cars. Travel costs are eligible for reimbursement only if travel is by land using public transport. We also encourage artists to produce and transport their work in the most sustainable way possible. For more tips on eco-friendly travel, please see the HIAP website: https://www.hiap.fi/ecotravel/

• The Finnish Darkroom Association reserves complete creative control over the exhibition's design, including selection, layout, and hanging of the works exhibited. The organisers are responsible for installing the exhibition. The artists may be involved with the installations as relevant.

• Artists should consider the overall aesthetic quality of the exhibition. Helsinki Analog Festival reserves the right to reject any delivered artwork for inclusion in the exhibition for any reason, including quality.

• Artists are responsible for all customs declarations and shipping costs. The Finnish Darkroom Association does not assume any liability for the works during transportation to or from the exhibition, or while on display. Artists are responsible for arranging insurance for their works, should they wish to do so.

• The selected artists are responsible for organising the return shipping of their works after the festival within a set deadline. Works not shipped out by the deadline will be disposed of. The delivery, installation and return deadlines will be clearly stated in the correspondence between the organisers and selected artists.

• The Finnish Darkroom Association and Authorised Parties reserve the right to deal with any aspect not foreseen here, in the way they deem appropriate.

Authorisations, Copyrights, Liability and Personal information

• Selected projects and related materials may be used by the organisers to promote the Helsinki Analog Festival and future Open Calls. Artists will always be credited where applicable. Selected participants grant the organisers a non-exclusive, perpetual right to use images and information about the works on websites, social media, publications, communications, and marketing. No additional fees or approvals are required for such use. Copyright remains with the artist(s).

• Applicants warrant that their submission is original and that they hold all necessary rights for its exhibition and promotion. Submissions must not infringe any third-party rights, including copyright, trademark, patent, or personal rights, and must comply with applicable laws. The artist(s) retain ownership and all intellectual property rights of the submitted work.

• Participants agree that the organisers may use their email addresses for communication purposes, such as newsletters.

• All personal data provided during registration and submission will be stored solely for administration, communication, and statistical purposes related to the Open Call. Data will not be shared with third parties and will be retained only as long as necessary.

• The organisers are not responsible for technical malfunctions, including issues with telecommunication, online systems, servers, equipment, software, or human error, which may affect the submission process.

• The organisers reserve the right to stop, change, or extend the Open Call.

In the event of a dispute, Finnish law applies, and the place of jurisdiction is Helsinki, Finland.