On Thursday, November 27, 2025, the Ateneum Art Museum hosted the first-ever Ateneum Gala , bringing together artists from the fields of art, fashion and the creative industry to celebrate Finnish expertise. The event was inspired by the Gallen-Kallela, Klimt & Wien exhibition at the museum and also drew inspiration from the internationally renowned Met Gala in New York.

The evening was centered around a fashion presentation, where 30 Finnish fashion designers presented their creations on the spectacular main staircase of the Ateneum. The exhibition was held as a two-part event for both invited guests and the public. The museum's monumental staircase served as a catwalk, along which models walked down, showcasing the diversity of Finnish fashion.

Capital AV was responsible for the technical implementation of the fashion show. We provided lighting, sound and carpeting for the catwalk built on the staircase, which enabled the show to take place in the architecturally unique environment of the museum.

The Ateneum’s lobby and main staircase were not originally designed for fashion shows, which brought its own technical and logistical challenges to the project. The solutions had to take into account both the positioning of the audience and the architecture and conservation requirements of the museum space. The technical solutions were designed in a way that supported the visual appearance of the space and enabled the show to proceed smoothly.

The artistic direction and styling of the fashion show was handled by Minttu Vesala . Hair was handled by Miika Kemppainen and her team, and makeup was handled by Jenny Jansson and her team. The stage featured creations from several well-known Finnish designers, such as Katri Niskanen, Anne-Mari Pahkala, Mert Otsamo, Teemu Muurimäki and Rolf Ekroth .

The Ateneum Gala spectacularly highlighted Finnish fashion in a museum environment and created a new event concept that combines art, design and fashion in a unique way.