4th International Symposium of Monumental Marble Sculpture in Béziers.

From september 12 th to october 03 th 2021, at the Domaine Départemental de Bayssan, Route de Vendres, 34500 Béziers, France.

Theme: "Mediterranean wildlife"

SUBJECT
EPIC Hérault Culture organizes the 4 th International Symposium of Monumental Marble Sculpture, in Béziers.
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 vegetal park of 20 hectares, planted with Mediterranean plant species.
• To enrich the cultural heritage of the town of Béziers and the Department of Hérault.
• To promote marble in our Department and its geological resources.

THEME, DATES AND VENUE
The theme of the 4 th edition of the symposium will be "Mediterranean wildlife". As a Department, Hérault is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea, while the Canal du Midi crosses the town of Béziers. The theme of "Mediterranean wildlife" will have to be dealt with in a fairly broad way, including terrestrial, aquatic and aerial species. A panorama of the emblematic wild (non-domestic) species that can be discovered in this magnificent territory that is the Mediterranean.

• Each artist will have to propose an ORIGINAL work on this topic with at least part of polished work, so as to put forward the color of the marble.
• The symposium will take place from september 12 th to october 03 th 2021, at the Domaine de Bayssan, in Béziers.
• Artists will produce their work in-situ and in front of the public, from september 12 th to october 03 th 2021.
• The symposium will take place regardless of prevailing weather conditions.

MATERIALS
The sculptures will be carved directly from stone. The medium is marble from Saint Pons de Thomières, in a range of colors (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 at least : 170/80/80 cm, prepared with 6 sides.
Organizers will position the marble blocks according to prior instructions given by the sculptors.
The marble stone block’s color will remain up to the organizers’ choice in coherence with the subjected project.
The sculptures will be produced from a single block and no handling will be possible during the symposium.

SCHEDULE
Saturday, september 11th 2021: reception and installation of sculptors.

• Work will start at 9 am on september 13 th 2021 and the sculptures must be completed by 8pm on October 02th 2021, failing which the organizers reserve the right not to release payment.
• Time slot of work: 7:00 to 21:00
• Sunday, September 12 th 2021: symposium inauguration.
• Sunday, October 03 th 2021 : closing and awards ceremony in honor of participating sculptors. All sculptors must attend.
• During the symposium, 2 days will be dedicated to visiting the region and resting.

SELECTION OF CANDIDATES

• The jury will select 6 participants + 2 participants in reserve, according to their project, the adequacy with the topic, the explanations, the sketches and their experiment in monumental sculpture on marble.
• Application deadline: April 2 th, 2021 - 12am (french time)
• The selected candidates will be informed by e-mail before April 30 th, 2021.
• The list of selected candidates will be directly sent to the successful applicants by April 30 th 2021, at the latest.
• The jury’s decision is final.
• Each selected candidate will have to realize a 1/10th volume model of his project, which he will have to bring on site at the opening of the symposium.

EQUIPMENT

• Artists will work in covered, lit, external workshop areas, installed by the organizers at the Domaine de Bayssan, in Béziers.
• Organizers will provide 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
Each artist will work in their own work station 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 waiverso that the responsibility of the organizers cannot be incurred.

PAYMENT

• At the end of the symposium, each sculptor will receive a payment of 2,300 euros (two thousand threehundred euros) for their services. This will be paid by bank transfers only (bank account details will be required) NO CASH PAYMENT 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 (seven hundred euros).
• No other payments may be claimed.

BOARD AND LODGING

• Organizers will cover the cost of a single room and meals for sculptors from the evening of September 11th 2021 until the morning of October 04th 2021.
• 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 organizers 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, regional authorities and the art and culture world.
• Posters, flyers and invitations will be distributed to publicize the event to the general public.
• The entire event will be publicized on websites and social networks.

RIGHTS

• The 6 sculptures produced at the time of the symposium will be the property of the Department of Herault which reserves the right to expose them as it wishes it.
• The projects, the models as well as the possible publications of the photographs of works, carried out as information, of publicity or edition, will become the property of the EPIC Herault Culture.
• 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 2021 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.

HOW TO APPLY:
Email-only registration
Step 1: Documents required To be sent to Wendy Cunnen, Symposium Artistic Director, before April 02th 2021 12am (french time) Mail: symposium.marbre@gmail.com

• Curriculum Vitae (resume).
• Completed, signed and dated symposium terms and conditions and application form (require to the registration email)
• 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 "Mediterranean wildlife " (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 text presenting the artist's career path and artist’s emotions and stating the suitability of the sculpture with the proposed theme.
• A recent photo of the artist.
• A RIB (Bank Identity Statement)
• Bank account number and swift Code.
• A copy of a valid identity card or passport

Step 2: For the selected artists, they will be asked to produce a 1/10 model in scale to be brought on the spot at the time of the symposium. The application deadline is April 02 th 2021- 12am (french time). 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 April 30 th 2021, at the latest.

For further information: symposium.marbre@gmail.com