2nd International Symposium of Contemporary Monumental Marble Sculpture

The Hérault Departmental Council, the VPM Association, Valorisation du Patrimoine Marbrier (marble heritage promotion association), are organising the 2nd International Symposium of Contemporary Monumental Marble Sculpture, in Béziers. The event will take place from 14 june to 6 July 2019, at the Domaine Départemental de Bayssan, Route de Vendres, 34500 Béziers, France.

The aim of this event is:

• To raise public awareness about sculpture (by working in front of an audience).
• To produce original and contemporary works of art that will become installations in the “Mediterranean Garden” at the Domaine de Bayssan, a park planted with Mediterranean plant species.
• To enrich the cultural heritage of the town of Béziers and the Hérault Department.
• To promote the marble in our Department and its geological resources.

The theme of the 2nd edition of the symposium will be “Mediterranea mithology”.

As a Department, Hérault is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, while the Canal du Midi crosses the town of Béziers.
The topic of "Mediterranea mithology" will have to be trated in its symbolic form through mythical, magic and fantastic figures of Mediterranea speace: Mythology in its poetic and historical form, combining daydreaming and imaginary.

Each artist must propose an ORIGINAL and CONTEMPORARY work of art on this theme.

• The symposium will take place from 14 june to 6 July 2019, at the Domaine de Bayssan, in Béziers.
• The artists will produce their work in-situ and in front of the public, from 14 June to 6 July 2019.
• The symposium will take place regardless of prevailing weather conditions.

Material

• The sculptures will be carved directly from stone.
• The medium is marble from Saint Pons de Thomières, in a range of colours (red, purple, white with yellow
• veins, pink, etc.). For more details on these marbles, see www.marbres-de-france.fr
• The size of the blocks will all be identical: 170/80/80 cm, prepared with 6 sides.
• The organisers will position the marble blocks according to prior instructions given by the sculptors.

Schedule

• 13 June : reception and installation of sculptors.
• Work will start at 9 am on 14 June and the sculptures must be completed by 2pm on 6 July , failing which the organisers reserve the right not to release payment.
• Working hours: 9am to 8pm
• 14 June: symposium inauguration, from 6pm.
• 4pm, 6 July 2019: closing ceremony and presentation of awards to sculptors for their participation. All sculptors must attend.
• There will be 2 days rest and visits of the region will be organised during the symposium.

Selection

• The jury will shortlist 6 participants + 2 in reserve, based on their proposal, suitability with the theme, explanations, sketches and their monumental marble sculpture experience.
• Selection will become definitive upon reception of a 1:10 scale model of the sculptors’ proposals.
• Application deadline: 10th april 2019.
• Shortlisted candidates will be informed by email on  20 April 2019.
• The list of selected candidates will be sent directly to the successful applicants by 20 April 2019, at the latest.
• The jury’s decision is final.

Equipment

• The artists will work in covered, lit, external workshop areas, installed by the organisers at the Domaine Bayssan, in Béziers.
• The organisers will provide the sculptors with a quick-release compressed air extension lead, power (with an extension cable) and scaffolding, to the exclusion of any other equipment.
• Each sculptor must bring their own tools and maintain them.
• A list of material suppliers and leasing firms will be made available on request.
• A secure, lockable room, will be provided to store tools.
• Participants must have their own protective equipment for their activities (safety shoes, goggles, masks, etc.).

Responsibility

The artists will work at their work stations under their own responsibility and ensure the safety of persons accompanying them. Selected sculptors must provide proof of civil liability insurance and all documents clarifying their social security cover. If sculptors are uninsured on the opening day of the symposium, they will be asked to sign a waiver so that the responsibility of the organisers cannot be incurred.

Honorarium

• At the end of the symposium, each sculptor will receive a payment of 2,300 euros for their services. This will be paid by cheque or bank transfers only (bank account details will be required) in return for an invoice for the same sum.
• Sculptors’ travel expenses from their place of residence will be reimbursed on production of original receipts (tickets, fuel receipts, motorway toll slips, etc.) up to a maximum of 700 euros.
• No other payments may be claimed.

Food and Accommodation

• The organisers will cover the cost of a single room and meals for sculptors from the evening of 13 June  until the morning of 7 July 2019. Personal expenses (telephone, drinks outside meals, etc.) will be at the sculptors’ own expense.
• Sculptors must specify any dietary requirements as soon as they are selected.
• If sculptors wish to bring someone to accompany them, this person must pay for their own accommodation, meals, drinks and all other costs pertaining to their stay. Once accepted, sculptors must inform the organisers if they wish to be accompanied (max. 1 person), so that accommodation options can be checked accordingly.

Communication

• Media coverage of the symposium will be in the form of media packs to the general and specialist written press and TV networks. These will also be sent out to partner companies, the regional authorities and the art and culture world.
• Posters, flyers and invitations will be distributed to publicise the event to the general public.
• The entire event will be publicised on websites and social networks.

Copyrights

• Sculptors will sign a contract for the transfer of copyright, which will retain only their moral rights.
• Private companies and/or public partner institutions and event sponsors may use and exploit images from the works of art produced at the 2019 symposium, as a means of communication.
• Sculptors may not challenge the taking and publication of images, film or other media, both during and after the symposium.

Application

Only e-mail registration to be sent to: symposium.marbre@gmail.com
Documents required:

• Curriculum Vitae.
• Completed, signed and dated symposium terms and conditions and application form (to be required to the email address symposium.marbre@gmail.com)
• 3 photos of recent monumental artwork, mentioning sizes and where they were produced, including at least one monumental sculpture in marble.
• Design sketches, 4 photos of a 1:10 scale model of the planned installation on the theme of water (front, side and rear and three-quarter views) and size of the final sculpture.
• The final title of the work of art, its meaning and symbolism.
• A sentence summarising the artist’s emotions and stating the suitability of the sculpture with the proposed theme for 2019, water.
• A recent photo of the artist.
• The Shortlisted artists, will be asked to send a 1:10 scale model by 20 April 2019, to confirm their selection.
• The jury will reject any incomplete applications and decide on the final selection of candidates upon reception of all requested documents and scale models.
• The list featuring the 6 selected artists and 2 reserve candidates will be published by 20 April 2019, at the latest.