Malva Calls for Artists and Artworks for the Art Realm ‘28 Biennial, March 9 to August 2, 2026  

The Third Art Realm Biennial will take place in Lahti and across the Päijät-Häme region in summer 2028. We invite artists with ties to Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa, or Päijät-Häme to join us in exploring the power of art and its role in shaping the future. 

Founded by three regional museums to empower the arts, the Art Realm Biennial returns in 2028 to the Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva and selected locations throughout Päijät-Häme. We are seeking individual artists, working pairs, and collectives to participate. 

The theme of the upcoming biennial is A Wonderful Life – whether understood as a personal experience, a utopian dream, or an optimistic vision of the future. In today’s world, life does not always feel wonderful. Global political tensions, environmental crises, and economic uncertainty weigh heavily on many. Through this biennial, we invite artists to consider how art can create hope and meaning in times of chaos and uncertainty. What ultimately makes life meaningful? Artists are encouraged to approach the theme from diverse perspectives – also through humour, irony, or even gentle sarcasm, should a wonderful life feel otherwise unattainable. The theme may also be expanded beyond the individual and the human perspective. What could a wonderful life mean collectively? What conditions would allow as many people as possible to experience it? 

Apply now!

We invite artists to reflect on what a wonderful life is, what it could be, and how art – or artists – can influence it. We are looking for artists who wish to explore and harness the transformative potential of art to envision a wonderful life.  

We welcome diverse approaches and wide-ranging practices, as well as creative and unexpected solutions in the realisation or siting of the work. Applicants must have a personal connection to at least one of the three home regions of the organising museums: Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa, or Päijät-Häme. Works will be selected by a jury of experts representing the arts and related fields. 

Call for Artists and Artworks for the Art Realm Biennial ‘28 is open from March 9 to August 2, 2026.  

Application instructions on the Art Realm website
Artist and artwork application form in ArtCurator 

Information event in Lahti on April 22  

An information event for artists will be held in Lahti on Wednesday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The day will begin with a visit to Malva, including a tour of its galleries. After a lunch break (at the participants’ own expense), the programme continues at Lahti City Hall (Harjukatu 31). The afternoon includes an application information session, participatory programme and coffee. 

The application information session will also be streamed from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 2:00 p.m. Please note that the session will be held in Finnish only. 

Please register for the onsite event or the streaming session by Tuesday, April 14

Online Application Info Session on Teams on Monday, June 1, at 2 p.m. 

Participants may ask questions about the application process at an online Q&A session to be held on Monday, June 1, from 2 to 2:45 p.m. via Teams. Malva’s Exhibition Curators Ki Nurmenniemi and Kukka Pitkänen, Researcher Elisa Lindell, and Museum Director Tuulia Tuomi will be on hand to answer applicants’ questions. No advance registration is required.  

Link to the Microsoft Teams meeting: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/35132922114674?p=peDvp4LwpWdZ4GgTzs 

Further Information 

Art Realm

Hämeenlinna Art Museum and Tampere Art Museum have joined forces with the Lahti Museum of Visual Arts Malva to launch Art Realm, a brand-new series of biennial exhibitions, which will rotate between venues in Kanta-Häme, Pirkanmaa and Päijät-Häme. The first biennial was held at Hämeenlinna Art Museum and in the Kanta-Häme region 14.6.–8.9.2024. The next biennial will be organised in Tampere and Pirkanmaa area 12.6.–16.8.2026. In the summer of 2028, the biennial will be held in Malva and in the Päijät-Häme region.

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