Exhibitions by students of the Estonian Academy of Arts (EKA) are a tradition at the university. In 1995, the gallery was established in the 200-square-metre foyer of what was then the academy’s main building at Tartu mnt 1. In 2008, the gallery’s exhibitions were branded as EKA G after the academy’s Estonian abbreviation. From 2014 to 2018, the gallery space known as EKA Galerii was located in the interior courtyard of the Tallinn Art Hall at Vabaduse väljak 6/8 and EKA students could also exhibit their coursework art in the 100-square-metre foyer of the academic building at Estonia pst 7. The gallery is currently located in the EKA’s new building at Põhja puiestee 7.
The distinctive and multifaceted programme at the EKA Gallery is predominantly created by university students, departments and alumni. Term projects and final theses, group and solo exhibitions provide an overview of the specialities at the academy, the level of teaching and intellectual currents. Each year, a part of the TASE exhibition of final theses takes place in the gallery and twice a year, spring and winter, assessments of students in the Faculty of Fine Arts are on display at the “Assessment Marathon” exhibition. One of the goals of the gallery is to use the gallery environment as a part of the academic process, a place for exhibiting and experimenting, and to give students the possibility of perceiving their latest works in a professional environment. Often it’s here that young artists get their first experience displaying works to a larger audience in a gallery venue. To bring freshness to the general programme, we also host foreign projects and curator exhibitions. In addition to exhibitions, EKA Gallery also hosts performance art, artist talks, concerts and other events.
The open call takes place once a year in spring. Applications are reviewed by the jury.