Äkkigalleria is an artist-run, non-profit, nomadic exhibition space that appears spontaneously when appropriate locations become available. Our intention is to provide an "artists first" platform for a commixture of artists to show new work. Äkkigalleria was established in 2009, with the intention of mobilizing the visual arts into happenings and events; to offer alternative venues for sharing visual arts; to provide live, cultural and social activities for the residents of Jyväskylä; to support local and emerging artists; to activate vacant spaces; and to instigate exchange between artists and artistic disciplines. We strive to promote creative risk taking, to find new and imaginative ways to bring art to different public spheres by usurping existing spaces. The average duration of an Äkkigalleria exhibition is four days. Äkkigalleria has received the support of the City of Jyväskylä, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Central Finnish Arts Council and the Kone Foundation, in the form of project grants. In 2011, the gallery won the 2011 Central Finnish Art Award (a prestigious cash prize for excellence in the arts). 2014 Äkkigalleria was the recipient of the Finnish Cultural Foundation's Award for Arts and Culture. In 2015 Äkkigalleria received the Midnordic Culture Award and in 2016 The Culture Award of the City of Jyväskylä. |