PVSustain :: Art Contest - Call for Submissions

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Call for Submissions

Sustainability—Enough for All Forever

Art/Invention Contest

Sponsored by

The Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network

www.pvsustain.com

Theme: Sustainability in the Pioneer Valley—what is it?

Description and Background: Artists and inventors throughout the Pioneer Valley (Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties), Massachusetts, are invited to submit their ideas and concepts for a project that will result in a representation of sustainability. Ideas can be described visually (through sketches, models, sculpture, video etc.) and verbally. This first stage of the contest involves only concepts; not finished artwork or productions.

Purpose: The goal of this contest is to stimulate thought and action on sustainability in the Pioneer Valley. The idea of sustainability dates back more than 35 years. It was a key theme of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm in 1972. The concept was coined explicitly to suggest that it was possible to achieve economic growth and industrialization without environmental damage. In the ensuing decades, the concept of sustainability was progressively developed through the World Conservation Strategy (1980), the Brundtland Report (1987), and the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio (1992).

Sustainability is both a goal and a concept. As a goal, sustainability is an idea of a world where people care for and nurture the environment and one another as they carry out their day-to-day activities. As a concept, sustainability calls for probing about limits on natural resources, capacities of ecosystems, and interactions among social, economic, political and environmental systems. The central theme underlying this concept is working toward a sustainable quality of life, now and in the future.

Perhaps the most widely accepted definition of sustainability comes from the Brundtland Commission. The Commission was convened by the United Nations in 1983 to address growing concern about the accelerating deterioration of the human environment and natural resources and the consequences of that deterioration for economic and social development. The Commission defined “sustainability” as development that "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Enough for all forever.

The concept of sustainability presents us with exciting challenges. It inspires all of us to work creatively toward moderating and changing our practices and behavior. It feeds new ideas and passions about technological, economic, and social growth that are ecologically viable.

Embracing all of this, what does sustainability in the Pioneer Valley look like, sound like, feel like? How can it be represented? Is it best articulated through a device, or through dance, music, film, sculpture, or two-dimensional design? We invite you to show and tell us.

Funding: $1,000 for winning concept submission and significant exposure and recognition for ALL finalists. Contest winner must agree to execute his/her winning idea and produce the final work with a $5,000 budget by September 30, 2008.

Criteria: The Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network is looking for project ideas that demonstrate the following:

effective communication about the concept of sustainability;
creative use of materials (recycled, locally based, or sustainable in other ways);
how the final work can be produced within the $5,000 award budget (include a budget) plus any other funding you have to realize your idea;
how the final work will reach a large public audience here in the Pioneer Valley (include a plan);
a spirit and intent that is positive;
an artistic imagination;
inspiration to thought and action on the part of the audience who experiences your art/invention.

Judges for the contest will use the above criteria to evaluate all submissions.

Judges: (click here to see bios)

ART: Hilary Price, Josh Simpson, Gina Beavers (invited),

Media/outreach: Chris (Monty) Belmonte, Rus Peotter, Kristen Beam

Sustainability: Daniel Ross, Katie Stebbins, David Starr, John Majercek,

Eligibility: In the spirit of sustainability, this contest will be locally based in the Pioneer Valley. Artists and inventors of all ages, backgrounds, training are encouraged to submit ideas—you must all live, work, or go to school in one of the cities or towns located in Hampden, Hampshire, or Franklin County.

Timetable:

March 31, 2008 Launch Contest—from March 31-June 20, 2008—all submissions that meet above criteria will be posted on the www.pvsustain.com website—weekly media releases will announce arrival of new submissions and excerpts will be featured on WGBY. The public will be invited to communicate their responses to the submissions—but public voting will NOT decide finalists.

Friday, June 20 All submissions must be received by 5 p.m.

June 20 – June 24 Finalists selected.

June 25 Finalists will be invited to present work publicly at an evening Sustainability Salon at the Academy of Music, Northampton. At the public presentation, original works will be displayed (as possible) and finalists will have the opportunity to make a public statement about their submission. Judges will comment, and the public will also have an opportunity to comment.

One to two weeks after, Judges will publicly announce contest winner.
Sustainability Salon

September 30, 2008 Final work of contest winner must be complete.

October 2008 Contest winner’s final creation will be publicly unveiled at a Sustainability Event at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

Submissions: Only one entry per artist/inventor. Submissions shall include all of the following:

Original work showing the concept, labeled with the artist’s/inventor’s name;
Contest Entry Form, which includes explanation of the concept (one paper copy and also electronic copy);
Digital image of concept –video or static-- so that your idea can be posted on the project website www.pvsustain.com for public review.

Images should be provided in .jpg format, 500 pixels wide by any height, and with medium compression or "6"; OR you can also submit a PDF that is 555k or less in size (but please include a .jpg format thumbnail approximately 200 pixels in width by any height—so we can have a display to click on);

Audio recordings should be in MP3 format;

You can submit a video--videos should be submitted via a YouTube link.

A $15 entry fee, must accompany all submissions. This fee will help to cover the costs of the Salon and publicity for the contest. Artists and inventors unable to pay the $15 entry fee can request a waiver.

Checks should be made payable to PVPC.

In addition, all concept submissions should come ready for presentation (e.g., two dimensional works should have wire for hanging on the back; three-dimensional works should be mounted on a rigid base for display purposes).

Send submissions to:

Sustainable ART/INVENTION
Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
26 Central Street
West Springfield, MA 01089
And email digital version to: artofsustainability@gmail.com

Note that all entry materials become the property of the Pioneer Valley Sustainability Network—via project staff at the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission for use by the Network and its project partners working on sustainability issues throughout the Pioneer Valley. PVSN reserves the right to photograph and or copy any of the entries for reproduction and distribution. In all cases, work will be credited to the artist or inventor.

For more information: Contact Catherine Miller or Patty Gambarini by phone at (413) 781-6045 or e-mail at: cmiller@pvpc.org or pgambarini@pvpc.org

Click here to download pdf of entry form