Because of huge interest, as of 10th of March, the competition is open for Faculty of Drama students.

The EU Delegation to Serbia and EUINFONET project is launching an exciting art initiative entitled “Evropa je ovde 2021” to mark the Europe Day in Serbia on 9 May 2021. We are looking for an opportunity to engage undergraduate students studying at Art Academies (Faculties of Fine Arts and Applied Arts, and Faculties of Architecture), state or private, as well Master and PhD students of Art Academies (Faculties of Fine Arts and Applied Arts, and Faculties of Architecture) to participate in art contest to mark the Europe Day in Serbia with their creative and imaginative ideas, thus, we are inviting the Art Academies’ students to submit proposals for interactive art installations which will be displayed in designated public space in three cities in Serbia – Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš.

Background

On European Union

Europe Day held on 9 May every year celebrates peace and unity in Europe. The date marks the anniversary of the historic ‘Schuman declaration’. At a speech in Paris in 1950, Robert Schuman, the then French foreign minister, set out his idea for a new form of political cooperation in Europe, which would make war between Europe’s nations unthinkable. His vision was to create a European institution that would pool and manage coal and steel production. A treaty creating such a body was signed just under a year later. Schuman’s proposal is considered to be the beginning of what is now the European Union.

To celebrate Europe Day, the EU institutions open their doors to the public in early May in Brussels and Strasbourg. Local EU offices in Europe and all over the world organise a variety of activities and events for all ages. Each year thousands of people take part in visits, debates, concerts and other events to mark the day and raise awareness about the EU.

The goals of the European Union are to promote peace, its values and the well-being of its citizens, offer freedom, security and justice without internal borders, sustainable development based on balanced economic growth and price stability, a highly competitive market economy with full employment and social progress, and environmental protection, combat social exclusion and discrimination, promote scientific and technological progress, enhance economic, social and territorial cohesion and solidarity among EU countries, respect its rich cultural and linguistic diversity and establish an economic and monetary union whose currency is the euro.

The EU values are common to the EU countries in a society in which inclusion, tolerance, justice, solidarity and non-discrimination prevail. These values are an integral part of our European way of life: human dignity, freedom (freedom of movement gives citizens the right to move and reside freely within the Union; individual freedoms are protected by the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights), democracy, equality, rule of law and human rights.

These goals and values form the basis of the EU and are laid out in the Lisbon Treaty and the EU Charter of fundamental rights.

On EU in Serbia:

In Serbia, Europe Day 2021 will be held under the slogan “Evropa je ovde” celebrating EU values and EU in Serbia. The European Union is the biggest investor, trade partner, and donor to Serbia. For more information on EU in Serbia, please visit www.europa.rs and www.euzatebe.rs web pages.

Art Instalation “Evropa je ovde” Contest Description

We are inviting all undergraduate students studying at Art Academies (Faculties of Fine Arts and Applied Arts, and Faculties of Architecture), state or private, as well Master and PhD students of Faculties of Fine Arts and Applied Arts, and Faculties of Architecture to submit their proposals for an interactive art installation on theme “Evropa je ovde”. Three best proposals, id est, installations shall be awarded by being publicly displayed in Belgrade, Niš and Novi Sad on 8th or 9th May 2021. Each of these three proposals shall be awarded with 5,000 EUR amount to create (produce) the installation, put it on display, and cover the logistics expenses and fee/fees of authors.

  • Proposed art installation has to be an engaged as well as interactive art object (involving audience participation in some form) in any manner desired (technological, 3D, multimedia, environmental engaging, sculpture, ready-made, etc.);
  • All undergraduate students studying at Art Academies (Faculties of Fine Arts and Applied Arts, and Faculties of Architecture), state or private, as well Master and PhD students of Art Academies (Faculties of Fine Arts and Applied Arts, and Faculties of Architecture) can apply;
  • Students can only apply as a team (two members per a team at least);
  • Students have to work closely with their chosen mentor who is a professor at the Art Academy (Faculties of Fine Arts and Applied Arts, and Faculties of Architecture);
  • Teams are not allowed to submit more than one proposal;
  • Students have to submit their creative solutions with full description of the proposed installation – no longer than 1,000 words explaining their vision, its technical specification, its dimensions, 3D rendering, sketches of the idea, etc.;
  • Environmental impact of proposed installations, id est, authors’ environmental awareness of their creative ideas shall be considered as an asset;
  • Awarded students will be obliged to participate in the opening ceremony on 8 or 9 May in order to present their work to the public either in Belgrade, Niš or Novi Sad;
  • The proposed work has to be so far unpublished, thus neither seen nor been on display in public space before or submitted to any other contest;
  • With their proposal, students are obliged to submit their respective indicative budget of expenses required for the proposed installation production, its logistics expenses, installation of the art object in designated public space in one of the above mentioned three cities in Serbia, and students’ fees.
  • EUINFONET will obtain the necessary licences for the outdoor installation location from relevant city authorities in the 3 towns.

Upon choosing the winners, applicants will closely work with EU Delegation to Serbia and EUINFONET project on implementing this initiative by sending reports (photos) on different stages of the installation production.

Financial Allocation Provided through this Call

The overall indicative budget made available under this Call for Proposals is EUR 15,000. Each of the three winners shall be awarded with 5,000 EUR to create (produce) the art installation, put it on display in designated public space in one of the above mentioned three cities, and cover the logistics expenses (of installing the art object), traveling expenses and fees of its authors. Three winning solutions will be awarded the funds in the following way:

  • Five days upon choosing the three winners, they will be each awarded with 50% of the allocated amount of above proposed funds;
  • Two weeks prior to 9 May celebration, winners will be awarded with 40% of the remaining sum – at this stage, authors will have to produce proof that their installation is in the final stage of its production;
  • 10% of the remaining amount will be transferred to each winner no later than 31 May 2021.

Terms and conditions of the contest:

Detailed terms and conditions of this contest can be found here. Applicants are not allowed to partner with any other sponsors. We will not be responsible for any possible damage/theft of these three installations during their display in designated public space in Belgrade, Novi Sad and Niš. The installations will be on display in designated public space until 31 May 2021. The EU Delegation to Serbia will retain ownership of the three winning installations.

Eligibility Criteria

Participation is open to all undergraduate students studying at Art Academies (Faculties of Fine Arts and Applied Arts, and Faculties of Architecture), state or private, as well Master and PhD students of Art Academies (Faculties of Fine Arts and Applied Arts, and Faculties of Architecture). Students are obliged to identify and closely work with a chosen Art Academy (Faculties of Fine Arts and Applied Arts, and Faculties of Architecture) professor as a mentor who will guide them in this process.

Application

Applicants may apply in Serbian language. Clarifications will only be requested when the information provided is unclear. Applicants are encouraged to submit detailed proposals of their ideas – e-drawings, 3D renderings, photos, drawings, etc. However, detailed narrative description of development of their ideas is required – no longer than 1,000 words, as well as in which way it portrays the topic “Evropa je ovde”, with full technical specification, indicative budget, logistics, production stages, installation of final solutions, etc.

For further information please contact us at the following email address: daliborka.nikolic@euinfo.rs.

Deadline for submitting applications is 23 March 2021 (11.59).