Open Call: Landscape Art Projects for Bielsko-Biała 2029

Open Call: Proposals for landscape art projects as part of Bielsko-Biała’s candidacy for European Capital of Culture 2029

Organizer: Urban Culture Institute – City of Weaves, city of Bielsko-Biała, Poland

Deadline: 31 May 2024

Bielsko-Biała, located South of Poland (bordering the Czech Republic and Slovakia), surrounded by the mountains and a candidate city for European Capital of Culture in 2029, is looking for landscape art project proposals by creatives from all over the world with experience working in outdoor natural spaces and a participatory approach.

More and more artists are creating works in natural spaces, forests or mountains. In response to the climate challenge and questions of sustainability, they wish to engage in dialogue with the natural elements, trees, rivers, sun, wind, rocks, fauna and flora. While taking care not to damage them. For BB29, a city surrounded by natural spaces, the aim is to present and share with the public a series of works emblematic of this new artistic field.

Bielsko-Biała participated in the Cities Ahead Academy of the Goethe-Institute. The Cities Ahead programme supports ambitious European cultural and creative cities in attaining more international visibility and cultural appeal. The open call as developed as a result of the Cities Ahead Academy that took place in Bielsko-Biała in January 2024.

More information: www.citiesahead.eu

Key themes of Bielsko-Biała candidacy for European Capital of Culture in
2029 (ECOC):

The concept of Bielsko-Biała is based on our slogan of WEAVING WELLBEING. On the one hand, it directly references the city’s heritage, its textile tradition, which meant recognition on a European scale in the 19th and 20th centuries. On the other hand, the motif of the weave derived from this tradition is transferred to a multidimensional and relational way of perceiving the city; a city where nature intertwines with culture, and multiculturalism becomes a space for social dialogue; a city of diverse artistic expressions (creativity) and visions of development (innovations); a city with interwoven stories of people.

Wellbeing: We pose the question: how can we achieve a sense of wellbeing through art? Artists are encouraged to create environments that inspire tranquility, reflection, and a sense of connection with nature. The landscapes of Bielsko-Biała can serve as catalysts for positive emotional and mental experiences.

Environmental Consciousness: sustainability lies at the heart of our vision. We challenge artists into dialogue with the natural elements, consider the ecological impact of their creations and explore ways to engage with nature in a respectful and sustainable manner. The project may have environmental objectives, such as raising awareness about ecological conservation, sustainable land management practices, or addressing specific environmental challenges faced by the mountainous region.

Inclusivity and participation: The project might seek to involve local residents in the creation or appreciation of the artistic interventions, fostering a sense of pride and ownership among the community members towards their landscape and cultural heritage as well as enhancing residents’ creativity and empowerment.

Eligibility:

• This call is open to international artists of all backgrounds and disciplines, including but not limited to visual artists, sculptors, architects, designers, and multimedia artists. These can be both temporary and permanent implementations.
• Artists must demonstrate a strong commitment to the themes of creativity, wellbeing, and environmental consciousness in their practice.
• Collaborative proposals involving interdisciplinary teams are highly encouraged.

Submission Guidelines:

• Interested artists are invited to submit a proposal in English outlining their concept for a landscape art project in Bielsko-Biała. and referring to the main themes of BB2029 candidacy for ECOC.
• Proposals should include a description of the artwork (max. 2,000 words), including its artistic concept, materials, and dimensions as well as the estimated budget in euros.
• Artists are encouraged to provide visual representations of their proposed artwork, such as sketches, renderings, or mood boards for full understanding.
• Please include a brief artist statement highlighting your artistic background, previous work, and how your proposal aligns with the themes of the project.
• Submissions should be sent to opencall@bb2029.com by 31 May 2024.
• An international jury will select at least one (with the possibility of increasing the number of selected proposals to five) project from all the submissions that will be included in the city’s final bidbook for the European Capital of Culture 2029.
• The most convincing projects will be selected by mid-June 2024. The authors of the selected projects will be notified via email.
• Decisions on implementing the project will be made after the results of the competition for the European Capital of Culture, not earlier than in 2025.
• Implementation might take place between 2025 and 2029

Benefits:

• Each of the selected projects will receive 1500€ as a selection fee. Subsequent stages: the implementation of the project, the cost of stay and travel and any additional costs will be settled by a separate agreement on the basis of further arrangements.
• Artists will have the opportunity to showcase their work in a prominent public space within Bielsko-Biała, reaching a diverse audience of residents and visitors.
• The project will be included in the city’s final bidbook for the European Capital of Culture 2029, which will be available online.
• Participating artists will be featured in promotional materials and media coverage related to the project.

Contact: opencall@bb2029.com