Valo / Light – Open Call at Fruitmarket in Edinburgh for Finnish and Finland-based artists

The Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland, in collaboration with Fruitmarket, invites applications from Finnish and Finland-based artists working with audiovisual, performance, and mixed-media art to exhibit at Fruitmarket’s Warehouse in Edinburgh, Scotland between December 2026 - January 2027. This opportunity offers a platform for artists from Finland to exhibit on an international scale, while strengthening strong northern cultural connections and meaningful ties between Scotland and Finland.

We’re looking for a site-specific proposal—an installation, series of works, light, video work, audio, or performative pieces, which responds to the space, its context, and possibilities. What would you like to imagine in the Warehouse during the time period and why? More than a theme or a format, we are interested in what matters to you right now.

Applicants may develop a new body of work or apply with an existing project in response to the Warehouse and its context. The selected artist or artist group will present their work at Fruitmarket's Warehouse in Edinburgh. The selected project will receive €12,000, covering the artist fee and production costs, with travel and accommodation funded separately.

This exhibition opportunity includes a funded research trip to Edinburgh in Summer 2026 to develop the proposal in collaboration with Fruitmarket's curatorial team. Throughout the process, both the Finnish Institute and Fruitmarket will provide mentoring and production support tailored to the needs of the artist or group. Within the budget, there is also an opportunity to develop a public programme alongside the exhibition.

The space

Originally a fruit and vegetable market, Fruitmarket has played a significant role in the Scottish contemporary art scene since the early 1970s. Following a significant renovation, the gallery reopened in 2021 with the Warehouse as a new facility: a high-ceilinged, exposed brick-walled space with metal structures that retains the character of its industrial past.

The space is naturally suited to audio/visual practices, yet proposals from artists working in installation and performance art equally welcome.

Please see this attachment (downloads file) for more photos and the layout of the Warehouse.

Who can apply

We welcome applications from Finnish and Finland-based artists. Artist groups and collectives with Finnish lead applicant are welcome to apply. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and inclusion in our work, and encourage artists from all backgrounds to apply. Existing partnerships and motivation to build connections to Scotland are considered an advantage.

Selection process

A jury consisting of Fruitmarket, the Finnish Institute in the UK&Ireland and Oulu Art Museum will select one work to be presented and produced in Edinburgh.

What we offer

• Exhibition (and public programme) at the Warehouse at Fruitmarket, Edinburgh in December 2026, continuing to January 2027.
• Mentoring and support
• Overall budget of 12,000€ for the creation, including production costs and artist fee
• A funded research trip to Edinburgh in summer 2026

How to apply

To apply, please send us the following documents:

• A brief letter of motivation (max 200 words)
• Project name and project description max 2 pages, including any potential partnerships. You can also submit your submission in an audio/video format (max 5 minutes). If submitting in audio or video format, please include a short overview (project name and a brief description) in the body of the email.
• Your (or your working group's) CV and a link to your portfolio
• Tentative budget (including existing funding, if any)
• Tentative schedule of the project

Submit your application by 17 May 2026 at 23.59 (BST) by sending it to applications@fininst.uk (opens a new window)

If you have any questions about the open call, please contact annika.pellonpaa@fininst.uk (opens a new window).

Timeline

• 7.4.2026: Call opens
• 17.5.2026 at 23.59 (BST): Deadline for applications
• Early June: Selected project will be announced
• Late June 2026: The selected artist(s) to travel to Edinburgh for a research trip
• Mid-December 2026 – mid-January 2027: Selected project takes place

Partners

Fruitmarket, which is located in the heart of Edinburgh, designs, develops, and presents world-class exhibitions, commissions, publications, performances, events, and participatory activities that open up the artistic process. Fruitmarket aims to create a welcoming space where people can engage with contemporary art and culture in a way that is meaningful to them.

Oulu Art Museum aims to promote a diverse society through its activities. The museum interacts with different audiences and strives for open dialogue, working closely with artists, art professionals, and researchers.

The Finnish Institute in the UK and Ireland supports the internationalisation of Finnish and Finland-based artists, researchers and social actors. As the leading expert on Finnish culture and society, the Institute enables societal change through art and culture, empowering diverse perspectives and fostering a more inclusive cultural landscape for all. The Institute is a non-profit, private foundation funded by the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture.