OPEN CALL: EMMA-Saastamoinen Curatorial Fellowship Programme
EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art and Saastamoinen Foundation invite applications for the second edition of the international EMMA-Saastamoinen Curatorial Fellowship Programme: a six-month paid curatorial research period taking place in Finland from September 2026 to February 2027.
Launched in 2025, EMMA-Saastamoinen Curatorial Fellowship Programme is a three-year initiative dedicated to fostering curatorial research and international exchange. Each year, one curator is selected through an open call for a six-month, paid curatorial research period in Finland. The fellowship is hosted by EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art, Finland’s largest art museum, specialising in modern and contemporary art and design, and housed in an iconic landmark of 1960s industrial concrete architecture.
Open to curators at any career stage, the programme offers a unique opportunity to develop independent research, engage with Saastamoinen Foundation Art Collection, one of Finland’s most significant collections of contemporary and modern art, and collaborate with EMMA’s exhibition and collection teams in a dynamic, supportive museum environment.
Applications are now open!
Fellowship period: September 1, 2026–February 28, 2027
Application deadline: Thursday, October 30, 2025 at 11:59pm Finnish time (UTC +02:00).
Programme highlights
During the programme, each fellow produces a research-based article that reflects their engagement with Saastamoinen Foundation Art Collection. At the end of the fellowship period, articles will be published on EMMA’s online platform, EMMA Zone, and later included in a compiled publication featuring all fellowship participants. EMMA Zone offers a space for reflection, curiosity, and discovery through thematic zones featuring articles, artist videos, and behind-the-scenes stories. Fellows are also encouraged to explore innovative collection-based curatorial approaches to support the renewal of the Saastamoinen Foundation Collection Exhibition.
What the fellowship offers
The fellowship provides dedicated time for research, collaboration with EMMA’s curatorial and collections teams, and opportunities to engage with the Finnish art scene. EMMA’s collaborative and multi-professional environment supports experimentation, dialogue, and professional growth.
Eligibility
The programme is open to curators from outside Finland at any stage of their career who demonstrate a strong interest in contemporary art and curatorial research. It is intended exclusively for international applicants, including those based outside Finland as well as non-Finnish residents currently living in the country. Please note that Finnish citizens are not eligible to apply.
Fellowship details
Duration: 6 months (September 2026 – February 2027)
Salary: EUR 3,534.00/month (gross)
Support: Workspace at EMMA, economy-class travel to and from Finland, residence permit costs covered, and assistance with finding accommodation.
Interested?
Full application details and instructions, including the application form, are available on EMMA’s website. Application deadline is Thursday, 30 October, 2025 at 11:59pm Finnish time (UTC +02:00).
Questions?
For inquiries related to the fellowship or application process, please contact us exclusively at: rekry@emmamuseum.fi and write “Fellowship Inquiry” to the subject line. To help us respond efficiently, we kindly ask that all inquiries be sent only to this address. Messages sent elsewhere may not reach the team handling applications.
Media requests
Iris Suomi, Lead Marketing and Communications Specialist, EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art: iris.suomi@emmamuseum.fi
About EMMA and Saastamoinen Foundation
EMMA – Espoo Museum of Modern Art fosters a unique dialogue between modern art, design, and contemporary art. Located in the Exhibition Centre WeeGee in Tapiola, Espoo, EMMA is housed in a former printing house designed by architect Aarno Ruusuvuori (1924–1992), an iconic example of 1960s industrial architecture. With over 6,000 square metres of exhibition space, EMMA is the largest art museum in Finland.
The museum presents around six exhibitions annually, alongside collection displays from Saastamoinen Foundation Art Collection, Collection Kakkonen, and the Tapio Wirkkala Rut Bryk Foundation. EMMA also provides expertise in public art projects commissioned by the City of Espoo, integrating art into urban spaces and everyday life.
Saastamoinen Foundation Art Collection is one of Finland’s most significant collections of Finnish and international art. With nearly 3,000 works, the collection is housed at EMMA and continues to grow through active acquisitions. Saastamoinen Foundation supports the advancement of science and art in society and is a founding partner of EMMA.
The origins of the foundation lie in the home collection of a Kuopio-based industrial family from the 1910s. It was established in 1968 to offer invigorating impulses of science and art to society, and it has since supported the expansion, preservation, and exhibition of the art collection.