Galleria Huuto. Jätkäsaari

Galleria Huuto is an independent artist collective located in Helsinki, Finland.
Currently Huuto maintains two galleries, both located at the center of Helsinki. Galleria Huuto is not restricted merely within these premises, however, but can also be realized elsewhere in a form of various events, projects and visits. Annually Huuto organizes as many as 50-70 contemporary art exhibitions.

Galleria Huuto came into being in November 2002, when more than 25 young artists, frustrated with the rigidness of the traditional art institutions, decided to establish a gallery for themselves. Right from the start Huuto artists have shared a common initiative with a desire to communicate directly with the audience. Huuto founders wanted to show their work in a place free of middlemen and narrow hierarchical structures.

The freedom and independence of artistic work are the core values of Huuto, according to which all conditions are arranged. The gallery is run on a voluntary basis and costs are kept minimal. Huuto is especially aimed to stand as a forum for young and experimental art. Performances, multi-disciplinary and cross-over projects, acoustic and electronic music events, video and film screenings and public discussions are organized in Huuto in addition to solo and group exhibitions.

Huuto does not hold any general artistic view or policy. Exhibiting artists formulate their own policies and are solely responsible for their own show. Huuto does not constitute an artists’ group in the traditional sense, since not any commitments to artistic manifestos or styles are expected. To work within Huuto requires merely an interest for constructive collaboration with other artists.

Huuto organizes special projects, the aim of which often is to intertwine the social and
individual aspects of artistic work. Dozens of artists might take part in creating a
collaborative art work, for example. Huuto also takes part in a wider social dialogue through various art events or exhibitions, and often works in collaboration with other cultural organizations (Avanto – Helsinki Media Art Festival, HIAP – Helsinki International Artist-in-Residence Programme, NIFCA, etc).

As an organization Galleria Huuto is focused on creating new institutional practices in art, promoting co-operation among artists and offering a platform for individual artists. Participants often see Huuto as an alternative art infrastructure: a place, a time and an opportunity to act.