EMMA and Saastamoinen Foundation Support Artists at the Venice Biennale 2026

The 2026 edition of the Venice Biennale serves as the international launch platform for this new model of collaboration between EMMA and Saastamoinen Foundation. Moving beyond single exhibitions and one-off commissions, the initiative establishes multi-year partnerships designed to support artists through critical phases of their careers. The production support provided for the works presented in Venice will evolve into sustained collaborations, culminating in each artist’s first major museum survey exhibition at EMMA. 

“Mid-career represents a pivotal stage in an artist’s trajectory, yet it often lacks sustained institutional support. By committing to long-term collaboration, we aim to provide artists with the time, space, and continuity needed to develop ambitious work and deepen their practice,” says EMMA’s Director, Krist Gruijthuijsen. 

The initiative reflects a shared vision of fostering artistic development, research, and institutional recognition through continuity, care, and long-term engagement. Bringing together artists from the Nordic and Baltic regions within a broader international contemporary art context, it encourages dialogue between regional practices and global discourse. The exhibitions at EMMA will be developed in collaboration with international partner institutions and supported through dedicated funding and acquisitions. 

“Many of the selected artists are already represented in the Saastamoinen Foundation Art Collection, allowing this collaboration to build meaningfully on existing relationships. We look forward to collaborating with these artists,” says Päivi Karttunen, Chair of the Saastamoinen Foundation Artistic Board. 

The three works supported by the initiative and presented at the 61st International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia are Aeolian Suite by Jenna Sutela at the Pavilion of Finland; Animism Sings Anarchy, a film installation by Eglė Budvytytė at the Lithuanian Pavilion; and Terminal Lucidity by P. Staff, presented in a group show CANICULA at the Complesso dell’Ospedaletto by the Fondazione Between Art and Film on the occasion of the Biennale.