ARCHIVE - Foundation stone
Foundation stone
The laying of the foundation stone is a symbolic act, celebrating the beginning of the building process. The ceremony marks an agreement between the participating partners - working together towards a common aim. Traditionally, a plaque is incorporated into the structure of the building. The foundation stone itself is often represented by a box containing all kinds of information - topical issues relevant at the time it is laid.
The New Opera House in Oslo has been one of the most keenly debated building projects in Norway over the course of several years. National and local debates have raised such issues as where the building should be located, and whether a new Opera House should be built at all. In the light of these often heated debates, the foundation stone ceremony is of special importance.
By inviting artists to submit concepts and project ideas to an open competition, the Art Committee hopes to encourage artists to develop and submit a wide range of proposals which might be incorporated into the ceremony itself. At the same time, the Committee wishes to mark the occasion of the ceremony by focusing upon contemporary art. The artist is free to interpret the concept of the foundation stone in any way he or she sees fit - for example, the physical form of the foundation stone as an object, any aspect of the ceremony itself, or purely conceptual ideas. The potential public interest the ceremony will generate may also lead to ideas for artistic interaction.
The submitted ideas must take into account and relate to the parameters set up by The Norwegian Opera (Den Norske Opera) and The Directorate of Public Construction and Property (Statsbygg), and will be developed in close collaboration with those responsible for the ceremony - a commission consisting of representatives for The Norwegian Opera, The Directorate of Public Construction and Property and the Art Committee. The relatively short time allotted for the realisation of the project will be a challenge. Execution of the projects is planned for September 2004.
Submission requirements
The material submitted should describe the idea, its intentions and particular requirements for execution in easily understood terms. It should also be made clear that the project is realisable within the given framework. Maximum 3 x A3 pages of text/images may be submitted. No other material will be considered.
The projects must be submitted anonymously. Each submission must be marked with a motto or a code. An envelope containing the identity of the artist should be attached to the entry and marked with the same motto or code as the submission.
NB! The submitted material will not be returned.
Delivery address
Operautsmykking / Grunnstein
Utsmykkingsfondet for offentlige bygg
Postboks 883 Sentrum
N-0104 Oslo, NORWAY.
Deadline for entries
The material must be postmarked 20.01.04 at the latest.
Prizes
The winning entry will be awarded NOK 100.000
Up to 5 entries will each be awarded NOK 20.000
The jury is not obliged to select a winner.
Execution of the winning entry
It is a condition that the winner of the competition, if any, will be engaged to realise his or her project, based upon the written remarks and conclusion of the Jury.
Financial framework
The financial framework for the execution of the Foundation Stone Project is maximum NOK 200.000 - including the artists fee.
Questions regarding the project
All questions will be rendered anonymous by the secretariat and will be collected together and posted on the website together with the relevant replies.
Website: www.operautsmykking.no
N.B! There will be no other form of reply to questions submitted.
No further contact between competing artists and members of the jury should take place.
Jury
The Art Committee is the jury. Its members are:
- Leif Terje Løddesøl, Leader of the Art Committee, representative for the Ministry of Culture and Church Affairs. Chairman of the board of The Norwegian Opera
- Hilde Andersen, Theatre producer/ director, The Norwegian Opera
- Per Jørgen Østensen, Project Leader, The Directorate of Public Construction and Property
- Kjetil Trædal Thorsen, Project Director, Snøhetta AS (Architects)
- Anne Knutsen, Art Consultant, National Foundation of Art in Public Buildings
- Sonja Wiik, Art Consultant, National Foundation of Art in Public Buildings
- Oddvar I.N.Daren, Art Consultant, National Foundation of Art in Public Buildings
- Erik Engerud, Secretary for the leader of the Art Committee
The jurying process will be concluded by 20.02.04.
Public announcement of the possible winner and other winning competition entries:
20.02.04.
Exhibition
The competition entries will be presented in the form of an exhibition or as a publication. Artists who do not wish their work to be made public must give written notice of this when submitting their competition entry. If the winning project relies heavily on an element of surprise, it will not be shown beforehand.
Pictures and background
Snøhetta
Statsbygg
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