GUIDELINES AND POLICIES
You are hereby invited to apply for participation in the 11. International WoodSculpture Symposium in Sønderborg, Denmark from June 18th – June 24th, 2023.
The organizers of the 11. International WoodSculpture Symposium in Sønderborg is the Municipality of Sønderborg and the Uwe Wolff’s Foundation.
The symposium will take place in the surrounding of the beautiful Castle of Sønderborg at the harbour and near the city centre. During the symposium, you can expect an audience of about 1000 visitors each day. Therefore, it is very important for the symposium that the artists interacts with the audience.
The oak tree block, which you will be working on has the dimension: minimum 60x160 cm. The organisers will provide electric chainsaws, which the artist needs to use.
In 2023, 10 artists will be invited after having screened all applications. This invitation will be sent out worldwide.
There is no theme for your work, however, it is important to describe what your work is about.
After the symposium, the organisers plan to exhibit all 10 artworks in a park. After the exhibition period all artworks will be donated to a local school/institution and/or public places.
We ask you to carefully read the guidelines, which you can find below. By registration, you proof that you agree upon our guidelines and policies and that you will fully comply with them.
You will be informed about the final selection decision at the latest mid-February 2023. You are always welcome to contact us if you have further questions or remarks.
1. Practical matters
The invitation is only valid for one person (the artist) and the symposium requires that the artist works on his/her own.
Application and all further communication will be in English.
The oak tree blocks and the final artwork of the artist belongs to the WoodSculpture Symposium (The Municipality of Sønderborg and Uwe Wolff’s Foundation).
The oak tree blocks will be handed over to an in advance known recipient (e.g. local school, organization, park, public community).
The final handover is planned to be on Saturday, June 24th from 12:30 – 13 pm. It is required that the artist is present at the harbour square during the whole ceremony / handover session.
Each artist must bring his or her own hand tools and personal equipment for creating the sculpture.
An electric chainsaw of high quality will be provided during the working hours. In total, the symposium will provide medium sized electric chainsaws and one large chainsaw for sharing among the artists. Moreover, a carving saw will be provided. The artists need to be aware of that they need to share the equipment and handle it carefully.
For other needs and purposes there will be electrical connections (220V) on the spot.
A service manager on spot, during the whole week, will make sure that all equipment is provided and functional.
The artists need to wear safety-trousers and other equipment provided by the organizer.
Due to insurance, the artist must bring and wear his/her own safety shoes.
The programme for the week is handed out at the start of the symposium and beforehand sent by e-mail. The programme of the week contains special arrangements (e.g., excursions and social gatherings).
The artists are guests in the Municipality of Sønderborg and are therefore expected to participate in these activities.
Every artist works at his or her own risk. The symposium has signed third-part insurance.
2. Working Schedule
The daily working time during the week will be from 9 am. until 6 pm. (Unless the starting day, the 18th, the beginning will be at 1 p.m.)
Working with the artwork has to be finished by Friday, June 23rd, at latest 4 p.m.
The artist’s artwork is handed over to a recipient on Saturday, June 24th at 1 p.m.
The Symposium will end June 24th, at 3 p.m. hereafter the artist can leave the symposium and the city Sønderborg.
During the working hours it is expected that the artist is open for conversations and discussions about his or her artwork/project. As experiences have shown, visitors are very interested in the artworks. During the week, schools and kindergarten-groups will visit the square.
Due to safety and insurance policies, the consumption of alcohol is prohibited during the daily working hours.
3. Payment
The artist will on the day of departure be paid cash in hand an amount of EURO 650,-.
Artists living in Europe will receive a travel grant of EURO 100,-.
Participants coming from the outside of Europe will receive a travel grant of EURO 200,-.
Additional personal expenses e.g. telephone conversation, medicine, etc. will be on one’s own account.
The artists may not bring or sell own artworks on the square during the entire Symposium.
4. Accommodation
The artist will be accommodated at private family homes in the Municipality of Sønderborg. They are looking forward to being the artist’s host. In spring (lot later than 1. of March), more information regarding your chosen host family will be sent by e-mail.
Breakfast and dinner will take place at the family’s home.
A local catering company will deliver lunch to the symposium.
Snacks and non-alcoholic soft drinks will be served during the entire symposium.
5. Cancelation policy
Cancelation of the event or date change: In case of cancelation of the event, the organiser will try to postpose the event, hence change the date if possible. The artist still commits to be part of the event also in case of date changes. There will not be any compensation in case of cancelation.
Annulment of the artist contract: The organisers can at any time cancel the contract with the artist. If this takes effect, there will not be any compensation for the artist.
6. Arrival and Departure
The artist has to be in Sønderborg Saturday evening, June 18th and the artist can plan his or her departure after the Symposium, June 25th after 3 p.m.
Important: 1st of May 2022, the artist has to send his/hers travel details to the organizer. In case of not meeting this requirement, the organizers can reject the participation and find another artist.
If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us:
Tanja Zeba, project leader, Municipality of Sønderborg: tzeb@sonderborg.dk