The National Foundation for Art in Public Buildings, Norway, (Utsmykkingsfondet for offentlige bygg) hereby invites artists working within the fields of visual art, arts and craft, architecture, landscaping and other visual expressions designers, to participate in an open, international competition for project ideas.
In the wake of the tsunami disaster in South East Asia on 26th December 2004, the Norwegian Government has put The National Foundation for Art in Public Buildings in charge of a memorial site in Norway to honour the victims.
The Memorial Site is to be open and inclusive to all people - independent of nationality or religion. The purpose of the site is to be a space for mourning and contemplation for those who have experienced dramatic events in their lives. The memorial site is to be an art/architectural project. It will be located somewhere on the Western shoreline of the Bygdøy peninsular, in Oslo.
Deadline for delivery of competition proposals
April 18th 2006
The winner/winners will be announced by May 5th 2006 at the latest on:
www.utsmykkingsfondet.no/tsunami
Proposals for project ideas
Artists working within the fields of visual art, arts and craft, architecture, landscaping and collaborative groups are hereby invited to send proposals, consisting of ideas/proposals for the memorial site. The choice of materials and physical design is open, but should take into account that the memorial site is to be outdoors, and accessible throughout the year. The memorial site should be long lasting and able to withstand the pressures of daily wear and tear and the forces of nature. The financial framework for the commission is NOK 2, 5 mill. inclusive of all mounting/structural work.The completion of the memorial site is to take place by Dec 26th 2006, or at the latest within the summer of 2007.
Competition requirements
The competition proposal should clearly set out the underlying ideas, the project aims and intentions as well as indicating how it can be realized within the budget framework.
The entry
A maximum of three A3 pages of text and images may be delivered. No other material will be considered. The competition proposal can be written in Norwegian or English. The material will be exhibited/presented publicly. Participants who do not wish their work to be publicized must deliver a written statement to this effect together with their proposal. The entry must be sent in anonymously. All proposals should be marked with a motto or a code. An envelope containing the identity of the artist should be attached to the entry and marked with the same motto or code as the submission.
Prizes
The jury will award a maximum of 4 prizes - NOK 50 000 for each proposal.
Closed Competition
The prized proposals will go on to participate in a closed competition. Those invited to submit their projects to the closed competition will receive NOK 25 000, in order to develop their work in relationship to the specific site (in addition to the prize on NOK 50 000 for the project ideas). In addition, the jury may invite a further 2 participants to the closed competition. Alternatively, the jury may choose to give the commission directly to one of the winners of the open competition, in which case, there will be no closed competition. An inspection of the site will be arranged for those invited to take part in the closed competition. The jury will present the winning project to the Norwegian Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs, who will pass a resolution to implement it.
Members of the jury
Svein Christiansen, art adviser and jury secretary
Katrine Giæver, art adviser
Beret Aksnes, art adviser
Ellen Carlén Idebøen, the Support Organisation for the Norwegian Tsunami Victims
Robert Jeyananthan, the Support Organisation for the Norwegian Tsunami Victims
Bjarne Aasen, landscape architect
Margrethe Fløystad, representative of the landowner, The Directorate of Public Construction and Property (Statsbygg)