Showroom Klingendahl opens in Tampere, invites artists to exhibit rent-free

Showroom Klingendahl opened in October 2025 after Eerika Malkki and Jari Granholm returned to their native city; Malkki's parents offered them a 110-square-metre street-level space in the former Klingendahl wool factory, Aamulehti reported.

The first year has been promising but uneven. "The start was really good, but the first year has been variable. There's risk because expenses continue even if sales don't come," Granholm said.

The gallery staged four exhibitions in its opening year and invites artists to bring work without charging rent. It is still probing a clear curatorial identity for Tampere. Building a regular audience has proved difficult; many people already visit museums, but persuading them to step into smaller galleries takes work, Malkki said.

That effort comes as neighbourhood-led community art takes root across Tampere this autumn with several collaborative local projects.

Showroom Klingendahl currently shows Sini Villi's textile sculptures and Panu Ruotsalo's paintings until 4 October, with Petri Ala‑Maunus's Let there be Light opening 17 October. The gallery recorded a 2025 turnover of €158,539 and a profit of €15,236, figures that include income from its first exhibition.