“HYDRO ACTIVE CITY” is an open international contest searching for art projects to be presented in the public space. We are looking for art works using digital media technologies in a creative approach to public space. Interactive art works involving people in the Baltic countries are looked upon as especially interesting. The winning art works will be shown presented in Gdansk during an international seminar on art and public space, held in between May 16-18th 2013. The contest is organized by the Baltic Sea Cultural Centre in Gdansk as part of the international ART LINE project, which is co-financed with funds from the European Regional Development Fund operating within the South Baltic Cross-Border Cooperation Program 2007-2013.

Art Line:
ART LINE is an international art project investigating and challenging the concept of public space. 14 partners from 5 countries around the Baltic Sea joined to create a co-operative platform for art and academia in Poland, Sweden, Germany, Russia and Lithuania. The platform aims at strengthening the institutions, creating opportunities for artists, and interacting with people in public space, on the internet, in exhibitions, and on the Stena Line ferries between Gdynia and Karlskrona. The project period is 2011-2013. ART LINE seeks answers to questions: How can one engage the ”new” public audiences and digital spaces supported by the internet for the creation and the communication of art? How can physical public space and digital space co-exist in art practice? Can a temporary interactive art project on the internet, be compared with a bronze sculpture in a square? In interdisciplinary workshops, seminars and exhibitions ART LINE will use digital media and cutting edge technology to explore these themes. (www.artline-southbaltic.eu)

Thematic Approach:
Water is an element that both connects and separates all the partners of the ART LINE project. This theme has become for us a natural source of inspiration to embark on a quest in search of  “hydro-active” works of art. In our understanding, hydro active projects are those inspired by water, to the fullest extent of the term - geographical, chemical, hydrological, literary or symbolic. They either artistically explore the term or use water as a material. “Active” element of the contest requires the artists to create projects that engage viewer into an active experiencing of art. The projects should in a natural way correspond and enliven the area of Gdansk running along the channel of the Radunia river (from Wielkie Młyny Street to Krosna Street). They should serve as a hard to resist invitation for local residents to go out and stroll in the rays of the May sun. All works are expected to be based on new means of expression and should be entirely or partially realized in digital technology.

Target Group:
The contest is open to individual artists as well as teams from the Baltic states – i.e. Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Poland, Germany and Denmark. The teams need to be composed of a maximum of three people. The contest also welcomes collaborations between artists researchers, scientists and technologists.

Laureates:
The authors of the 3 winning projects chosen by an international jury will be invited to cooperate with us and complete their works. Each winning contestant will receive remuneration of EUR 2000 (gross) and a budget of EUR 2000 (gross) to realize the concept. The organizers will also cover the costs of accommodation and travel to Gdansk connected with production and opening of the exhibition (spring 2013).
The chosen projects shall be completed and presented in the Gdansk city space, in a virtual gallery available on ART LINE’s website and may also be presented in partner regions.

Applications:
Valid applications should be emailed to: hydroactivecity@nck.org.pl, or by mail to the following address: The Baltic Sea Cultural Centre in Gdansk, ul. Korzenna 33/35, 81-851 Gdansk, Poland. Please add the words: HYDRO ACTIVE CITY.

DEADLINE: February 1st, 2013

General Rules of Application:
1.    All applications need to be made entirely in English.
2.    The contestants (teams) may submit no more than 2 projects.
3.    An application form (available on the website) needs to be completed.
4.    A valid application consists of a completed application form and a project of the work and visualisation of the project in city space.
5.    All the materials included in the application also need to be supplied in electronic format (CD/DVD/ USB stick).
6.    A project of work with a visualisation of the project in the city space must be submitted in a commonly used format (e.g. PDF, JPG, doc, mpeg4, mov, avi, wmv, etc.).

Rights:
By submitting a project, the contestant confirms that the copyrights to its contents are not limited in any way and do not breach the rights of any third parties. The contestant transfers the right to use the materials for promotional and informational purposes to the organizers. Projects selected for completion can be used for non-commercial presentation, as well as documentary and promotional purposes. The HYDRO ACTIVE CITY organizer shall not resort to any legal action.

Contest Guidelines:
The rules of the contest have been specified in the “HYDRO ACTIVE CITY. Contest Guidelines”, which are available at www.artline-southbaltic.eu and www.nck.org.pl

Contact:
The secretary of the contest: Aleksandra Musielak (aleksandra.musielak@nck.org.pl).








Download (pdf):
Call for entries
Guidelines
Application form
Pictures of space