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Open call

Caisa Open Call – Spring Season 2027 


22.4.2026

The next Open Call opens on 27 April 2026!  

Caisa is a cultural centre where diversity is not merely a goal, but a reality. Our work is grounded in the idea that art and culture belong to everyone, and that the role of a cultural space is to make visible different experiences, identities, and perspectives.  

Our programme is largely built through content selected via open call. We are looking for productions that strengthen Caisa’s mission: amplifying underrepresented voices and offering content that is socially, culturally, and artistically meaningful to the people of Helsinki.  

At Caisa, art never offers predetermined views. Instead, we invite visitors to think, experience, and participate.  

  
What kind of proposals are we looking for?  

We are seeking the following types of artistic content for Caisa’s programme:  

  • premieres and revivals of performing arts productions  

  • exhibitions  

  • concert and film series  

  • festivals  

  • course and workshop proposals related to arts education  

We are not seeking guest productions from abroad. International productions are considered only in connection with festival collaborations.  


Artistic Approach and Focus Areas  

Caisa’s core mission is to highlight underrepresented perspectives, stories, and identities.  

We are looking for artistic content that makes visible experiences and voices that often remain on the margins or lack space within the cultural field. Based on this mission, we seek productions that are:  

  • professionally realised  

  • artistically original  

  • current, socially engaged, or experimental in content  

We particularly value works in which the artistic vision and Caisa’s mission support and reinforce one another.  

Who Can Apply  

The Open Call is intended for artists, artistic working groups, and organisations working professionally in the fields of performing arts, visual arts, music, film, or arts education.  

Applicants are required to commit to Caisa’s safer space principles, which we ask applicants to familiarise themselves with on our website prior to applying.  

 

What Caisa Offers  

For productions selected for Caisa’s programme, we offer, as agreed on a case-by-case basis:  

  • venue facilities  

  • technical equipment  

  • technical staff  

  • a designated Caisa producer responsible for production coordination on behalf of the venue  

For performing arts productions, we require its own sound and/or lighting design. All selected productions will be presented on Caisa’s website. Communications and marketing will be agreed upon together with the City of Helsinki’s communication services, and we expect active participation from the artists in marketing efforts.  


Collaboration and Financial Principles  

Any financial contribution from Caisa is not a grant, but a fee for presenting a completed work. The fee:  

  • does not cover production or creation costs (e.g. materials, rehearsals, production process)  

  • covers only costs related to the realisation of the performance or exhibition  
      

The applicant is responsible for taking in consideration:  

  • employer costs, taxation, and other invoicing-related expenses  

  • realistically estimating the total budget of the production 
      

Ticket revenue sharing is negotiated separately. Caisa does not award grants; grants are administered by the City of Helsinki’s Culture and Leisure Division – Grants Unit  Please note any potential overlap if you are already receiving funding from the City of Helsinki for the same activity.  

  

Possible Forms of Collaboration (to be assessed already at the application stage)  

  1. Performing arts  
    Caisa pays performance fees and provides the venue and technical staff.  
  2. Exhibitions  
    Caisa pays an exhibition fee and provides gallery space and technical staff.  
  3. The Proposal has its own funding  
    Caisa provides the venue and technical equipment.  
  4. Proposal has funding and venues are rented  
    Collaboration follows Caisa’s venue rental practices.  
  5. Arts education  
    Remuneration follows the City of Helsinki’s arts education guidelines.  

  

Selection Criteria and Process  

Caisa’s team reviews all applications based on the selection criteria and makes selections for follow-up discussions.  

Selection criteria:

  • the proposal supports Caisa’s core mission of promoting diversity and inclusion  

  • the content is artistically engaging and meaningful in its context  

  • the proposal is professionally planned and feasible   

  • the proposal is suitable for Caisa’s spaces, technical resources, and schedules  

After follow-up discussions, Caisa’s team makes final decisions. Applicants will be notified by email by the end of September.  

Practical conditions  

The scale and implementation of productions are limited by Caisa’s facilities and technical resources. Before applying, we recommend familiarising yourself with Caisa’s spaces and technical capabilities:  

To assess the feasibility of exhibition proposals, applicants must include sufficient documentation of previous work (e.g. images, videos, or links).  

For performing arts, concerts, and film series, a portfolio or compilation of previous productions is considered an advantage. For first-time works, prior work may be presented in another form, as long as it supports the evaluation of the proposal.  


Application Support  

To support applicants, our team has compiled a short FAQ document. We recommend that all applicants review it.  

Read the FAQ on Caisa's Open Call search (pdf)

Timeline  

  • Application period: 27 April 2026, 9:00–24 May 2026, 23:59  

Selected productions will be realised during the Spring 2027 season (January–June). Negotiations with selected proposals will take place during August–September, and final decisions will be made at the end of September.  


Submit an application to Caisa’s open call (the link will be added here on 27 April at 9:00).


More information


Exhibitions 
producer Faruk Lika 
tel. 09 310 37515, 050 461 6957 
faruk.lika(at)hel.fi 

   

Theater & circus, festivals     
producer Jaana Lindman    
tel. 09 310 37005    
jaana.lindman(at)hel.fi    
  

Music, languages & literature    
producer Kitari Mayele    
tel. 09 310 37506    
kitari.mayele(at)hel.fi    
  

Dance & film    
producer Johanna Rissanen    
tel. 09 310 37798    
johanna.rissanen(at)hel.fi    
 
Art education and courses 
producer Teemu Savikurki 
tel. 040 522 6700 
teemu.savikurki(at)hel.fi 
  

Booking and renting of premises    
production assistant Merja Taivalantti-Bouchghoul    
tel. 09 310 37503    
merja.taivalantti-bouchghoul(at)hel.fi