In 2025 The Uwe Wolff’s Foundation and the Municipality of Sønderborg will arrange the symposium together for the 13th time. Throughout an outstanding collaboration, a well-known and well-reputed symposium has been established over time.
In 2025, 8 artists will be invited after having screened all applications. This invitation will be sent out worldwide.
The theme for 2025 is: NATURE AND OUR RELATION TO NATURE. In your application for the symposium, it is important that you describe what your work is about (ideas, thoughts, and sketch).
After the symposium, the organisers plan to exhibit all 8 sculptures in a local park. After the exhibition period all artworks will be donated to the nature park in Nordborg, only 25 min. away from the city Sønderborg.
GUIDELINES AND POLICIES
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.
You will receive an oak tree block with the measurements of minimum 60x160 cm.
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 21 st from 1-2 pm. It is required that the artist is present at 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 provided equipment and handle it carefully.
For other needs and purposes there will be electrical connections (220V) on the event site.
A service manager on the event site, 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 15th, the beginning will be at 1 p.m.)
Working with the artwork must be finished by Friday, June 21st, at latest 12 am.
The artist’s artwork is handed over to a recipient on Saturday, June 21st at 1-2 pm.
The Symposium will end June 21st at 3 pm. In the same evening a mid-summer event will take place where all artists need to be present due to a final end of the symposium.
From Saturday June 21st from 3 pm all artists can departure from 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,-. Due to increased travel costs the symposium will have an individual evaluation of each artist’s travel costs outside of Europe.
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 staying at private accommodation in collaboration with private host families.
Breakfast and dinner will take place at the accommodation.
Lunch will be provided at the event site. Coffee, cake, and water will also 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 15th and the artist can plan his or her departure after the Symposium, Saturday June 21st from 3 pm.
Important deadline: 1st of May 2025, 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