Fotografiska Tallinn - PRESS RELEASE - December 18, 2025

Fotografiska Tallinn is opening a powerful new chapter for emerging photography with the launch of Fotografiska Emerging Artists: The Baltics + Finland — a regional platform dedicated to discovering and supporting new photographic voices from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland.

This initiative is designed for photographers at the beginning of their professional journey, as well as artists whose work has not yet reached broader public recognition. The goal is clear: visibility, professional growth, and meaningful access to Fotografiska’s international network.

“A platform intentionally focused on artists shaping their own path in photography.”

Who Is This Open Call For?

This open call is inclusive, accessible, and open to all ages. Fotografiska Tallinn welcomes:

Emerging photographers from the Baltic countries and Finland
Artists at an early stage of their careers
Creators whose work has not yet gained wide regional exposure
Photographers working with strong visual language and compelling narratives

-While the press release does not specifically mention the queer community, this opportunity holds special relevance for queer photographers across the Baltic and Finland region — a space where diverse perspectives, identities, and lived experiences deserve visibility within major cultural institutions.-

From Open Call to Exhibition at Fotografiska Tallinn

The first major outcome of this platform will be a group exhibition opening in May 2026 at Fotografiska Tallinn, featuring up to six emerging artists from across the region.

Key details:

Exhibition opening: May 2026
Application deadline for 2026 exhibition: January 31, 2026
Selection frequency: Once per year
Applications: Rolling basis (the form remains open for future projects)

Artists will be selected by the Fotografiska Tallinn exhibitions team in collaboration with Fotografiska’s international team.

More Than an Exhibition: Real Professional Support

Mathias Väärsi, Joosep Kivimäe. ‘The Posts of the Safety Net Bent from Flying into the Apple Tree Are Leftover’. Hobusepea Gallery, Tallinn, 2024. Photo by Anna Mari Liivrand

Selected artists will receive much more than wall space.

The programme includes:

A professional exhibition at Fotografiska Tallinn
Personalised mentorship
Engagement with industry experts
Visibility through Fotografiska’s communication channels
Participation in public programming and workshops
A collaborative environment to experiment and grow alongside peers

Emerging artists gain experience within an internationally connected exhibition context.

What Kind of Work Is Fotografiska Looking For?

Fotografiska Tallinn is seeking cohesive, previously unexhibited projects that engage with contemporary and topical themes.

Accepted formats include:

Photography
Video works
Mixed media
Installation-based projects rooted in photographic practice

Applications must be submitted as a single PDF in English, including:

15–20 images or reproductions
A clear project description
Preferably a short artistic statement

A strong visual identity and narrative approach are essential.

A Cross-Regional Vision for Contemporary Image-Making

According to Margit Aasmäe, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Fotografiska Tallinn, the programme is about amplifying voices that deserve to be seen:

“A cross-regional perspective allows different voices, themes, and visual approaches to come together.”

The ambition is to ensure representation from every country in the region — and to build momentum year after year.

Curatorial Leadership with Deep Regional Experience

The programme is led by Kulla Laas, curator, arts and education professional, and board member of the Estonian Association of Photographic Artists (FOKU). She served as Director of the Tallinn Photomonth Contemporary Art Biennial from 2021 to 2025.

This local expertise is connected to Fotografiska’s global Emerging Artists initiative, launching internationally in spring next year, reinforcing long-term support for emerging visual culture worldwide.

A Special Message to the Queer Creative Community by Queerland Media:

To queer photographers across the Baltics and Finland:
this is your moment.

Fotografiska Tallinn is generally considered inclusive and queer-friendly, as it's part of a progressive art space in Tallinn's creative hub (Telliskivi) and has hosted LGBTQ+ relevant exhibitions, fitting into a city with a growing welcoming scene, though direct official statements are less prominent than its artistic focus on diversity

Your stories, bodies of work, identities, and visual languages matter. Fotografiska Tallinn’s Emerging Artists platform offers a rare institutional opportunity to be seen, supported, and connected on an international level.

Queerland Media strongly encourages queer artists working with photography and lens-based practices to apply.

Apply Now & Take the Next Step

📍 Applications open until January 31, 2026
📍 Open to artists from Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Finland
📍 All ages welcome

👉 Find the application link HERE.

For more queer-focused art, photography, and cultural opportunities:
🔗 Visit queerlandmedia.com
🔗 Follow the link in our Instagram bio (bio.site)

Fotografiska Tallinn is launching a new platform for emerging photographers. The Baltics & Finland.