Southnord Opens Call for UP NEXT 2025, Spotlighting Emerging Afro-Nordic Artists
Southnord is pleased to announce the open call for UP NEXT 2025, its annual exhibition dedicated to showcasing the next generation of Afro-Nordic artists. This year’s edition draws inspiration from Mindscape, Southnord’s inaugural collection exhibition, as well as When We See Us, the landmark exhibition on Black figuration curated by Koyo Kouoh and her team at Zeitz MOCAA, which will be presented at Liljevalchs in Stockholm from 9 October 2025.
Through this open call, Southnord invites emerging young persons of African descent situated or born in the Nordics (Southnords) working in the visual arts to submit works that explore, reflect upon, or engage in dialogue with the theme of repose—a state of rest, sleep, or tranquility.
“UP NEXT continues to be a vital platform for young artists at a pivotal stage in their careers. No better way to make space for the next generation than to continuosly put their work in front of an appreciative audience like ours,” says Marcia Harvey Isaksson, founder of Southnord.
The applications is open to artists aged 18-28 of African descent, born in or residing in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, or Sweden.
Application Period: 17 February – 30 April, 2025
Exhibition Dates: 3 September – 24 October, 2025
Apply at: www.southnord.com/up-next-2025
Selected artists will receive an exhibition honorarium, a stipend for travel to Stockholm, and the opportunity to showcase their work at Southnord’s artspace.
For questions and high-resolution images, please contact:
Georgètte Dwomoh-Appiah
Project Coordinator
georgette@southnord.com
+46 72 833 94 33
Or: hello@southnord.com