Fotografiska introduces a global platform for emerging artists that connects digital access with activity across its museum locations. The initiative operates through emerging.fotografiska.com and extends across Berlin, Stockholm, Shanghai, Tallinn, and Oslo, which will open soon. It brings together artists working across lens-based, time-based, and prompt-based practices within one system that links discovery, selection, and presentation.
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The program focuses on open calls that invite artists to submit work for professional review. These opportunities remain free of charge and follow a juried process that leads to exhibitions, grants, or publications. Fotografiska defines emerging artists as photographers in the early stages of their careers who have developed a distinct voice yet have not secured major solo exhibitions or institutional representation. The platform gives these artists access to institutional visibility through a structured and accessible entry point.
Several open calls shape the program’s first phase. A collaboration with Photography 4 Humanity and the United Nations invites artists to respond to urgent global themes, with selected work presented at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City on December 10, 2026. Another call, developed with Jägermeister under the title Night Aesthetics, focuses on contemporary interpretations of night culture and identity. Fotografiska also introduces dedicated calls in Berlin, Stockholm, and Tallinn, where selected artists will present solo exhibitions within their local museum spaces.
The platform also includes a verification system for participating artists. Verified profiles receive a dedicated portfolio page and a personal URL within Fotografiska’s network, creating long-term visibility tied to the institution. This structure connects digital presence with curatorial review, allowing artists to remain visible beyond a single submission or exhibition.
Fotografiska builds the platform through a combination of curatorial input, partnerships, and digital infrastructure. The system supports collaboration between artists and institutions while reducing barriers that often limit access to professional opportunities. Yoram Roth, Executive Chairman of Fotografiska, describes the initiative as a step toward building relationships with visual artists across different stages of their careers. Pauline Benthede, Global VP Artistic Direction and Exhibitions, points to the platform as a way to connect digital discovery with exhibition opportunities across all Fotografiska locations.
Sophia Emmerich takes on the role of Lead Editor, bringing experience as a photo artist to guide the platform’s editorial direction. The technical foundation relies on Naidus, a Picter brand that supports submission handling, jury review, and artist onboarding. This system provides a consistent process across all stages, from application to presentation.
The platform went live on March 12 and establishes a new structure for identifying and supporting emerging photographers through both digital and institutional channels.
