Helsinki Photo Festival pushes the boundaries for exploring photography and brings the artistic medium of photography back on the streets. Every year the festival presents works of emerging photographers selected through a theme-based open call for artists.
From August 4 – October 30, 2023 the event will attract visual media enthusiasts of all ages to photo exhibitions spread around Greater Helsinki. The festival is divided into 2 phases. The first phase consists of outdoor exhibitions starting August and the second phase kicks off late summer with pedagogical events and indoor exhibitions in September – October.
We help artists to connect with audiences and experts in the field of photography and visual culture. We give artists access to an international network enabling them to find new ways to work, get published and exhibit abroad and in Finland. The main initiative is to increase the visibility of contemporary photography through events and learning activities to give participants the opportunity to develop their projects as well as their artistic independence.
Helsinki Photo Festival ry, is a non-profit association created to attract interest and disseminate information on photography and visual culture in Finland and abroad.
The association publishes Helsinki Photo News – a periodical photo journal. The first newspaper was released 2020 only as a digital edition. Since 2021, the magazine is published as well as an offset print. At the same year, the association added a limited edition print programme supporting emerging artist to their curriculum. All exhibited artists and their background info can be explored in our exhibition section. Earlier open call themes were Love (2018), Anarchy (2019), Trust (2020), Fearless (2021), and Believe (2022). Also, in 2018, Helsinki Photo Festival organised an InsideOut group action raising attention to the discussion of Bilingual Finland. Read more on this project here.
40+
ARTISTS
Helsinki Photo Festival promotes and exhibits works of emerging photographers, visual storytellers, photojournalists, visual arts professionals and multidisciplinary artists.
The theme of the sixth edition of Helsinki Photo Festival 2023, is “Courage”. Between August 4 and October 30, the works of +40 artists from all over the world can be discovered in Helsinki and Espoo.
Each exhibition installation is unique as of the contents and are individually tailored to the respective venues.
The programming for 2023 is still ongoing. The Nordic Village project will be exhibited for the third time on the border of Helsinki and Espoo taking place at Hanasaaren Taidepuisto. All other venue partners can explored at our event page.
EXH
IBIT
IONS
We aim to showcase noble and magnificent fine art photography that has never been seen before in Finland in the metropolitan area of Greater Helsinki. The curated exhibitions will take place in historic landmarks, warehouses, art centres, galleries, parks and waterfront areas in Helsinki.
Helsinki Photo Festival works with aspiring designers and craftsmen who help the festival to revamp any site for use of photography exhibitions in public spaces and galleries.
The festival also fosters the Nordic Village – a talent platform with focus to support emerging Nordic photographers to a broad audience.
Most outdoor exhibitions can be enjoyed at any time of the day, free of charge!
The festival program will be announced in due time in print media and in our photo events calendar and Social Media.
WORKSHOPS
SEMINARS
ARTIST TALKS
PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
GUIDED TOURS
The program includes artist-talks, workshops, seminars, portfolio reviews, photo walks and exhibitions inviting all photo enthusiasts of any age to experience extraordinary innovative images taken by Nordic and international photographers and to learn new things.
The practice, theory and pedagogy events to discover new opportunities, acquire knowledge and connect with other creative will be facilitated by international experts in the field of photography.
Learning activities will be organized in September and October. Further information about the exact locations and dates to be announced in due time on our photo events calendar and Social Media.