Application Conditions

Art Forms

Art forms such as sculpture, object art, installation art, painting, drawing, graphic art and photography will be supported. We regret that work in the areas of film and video as well as ‘new media’ such as computer art, animation etc. cannot be considered.

Topics

The second scholarship is entitled „Border-crossing experiences and identity enlargement of the European consciousness between East and West“.

The Eastern enlargement counts as an epochal footstep of the European integration. In May 2004 the European Union has grown to a community of 25 states. However, with the enlargement to the territory of Eastern Central Europe also a deep encroaching change of the historical, political, social, economical and cultural structure of the EU has begun. In the course of the entry of Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and probably also the other states of the Western Balkan, which is intended from the year 2007, the unification process will definitely exceed the traditional borders of Latin Europe. The new European self-image transcends a merely geographical destination of origin. It is rather based on the acceptance of a collective political arrangement, but it also emanates from an economical partnership of convenience, which should face the challenges of the globalization. But how is this ‘European identity’ reflected in the multifarious experiences of the old and new EU citizens? Do people experience them as a more or less abstract political construct or already in a concretely collective ‘border-crossing’ reality?

After the euphoria about the fall of the ‘Iron Curtain’ scepticism has turned up meanwhile. That way some of the new East-Middle-Europeans front the western integration plans suspiciously. They worry about a cutback of their sovereignty, which they have won after 1989, and wish at least a stronger consideration of their own values and traditions. Whereas on the western European side many people expect a loss of stability and security in consequence of the entries. In this connection quite a few especially like to predict negative effects of the opened border traffic for their own economy and job market.

An European identity, the German culture minister Christina Weiss has declared, could only be reached if it will be possible to change our perception. Therefore she has argued for an „eastern enlargement of the European consciousness". To demonstrate and visualise the meanings of European identity concisely – in the perspective of the new member states of the EU – this is what above all their cultural representatives can achieve. So with the topic of this year’s scholarship announcement we ask as well for the role of art and artists in the European unification and communication process. From which point of view do they comment in their art work the mind of the public opinion?

Stellwerk Zollverein e.V. would also like to act as a counterbalance in the consciousness that a large part of the EU culture support programs go to major projects like e.g. events or film productions generating a lot of media attention. It wants to create a platform for individual art statements, which are to be understood as an expression of the political and social development within the new East-European acceding countries – and as an element of mutual dialogue. Therewith we want to offer a forum for the cultural dimension of the European communication efforts, for a lively face-to-face exchange.

The city of Essen is a good place for it. Substitutional for the Ruhr area, Essen applies in the competition for the European Capital of Culture: „The region of the Ruhr is among the three largest conurbations in Europe. 5.3 million people from 140 nations live in what is one of the richest cultural landscapes in Europe. The Ruhr area is a small Europe. It has been formed by immigration from all European countries. With the topic ‘Change through Culture – Culture through Change’ the Ruhr area applies together with 53 other cities and towns for the title ‘European Capital of Culture 2010’. (…) With this new self-esteem and in view of the chances in a European competition the Ruhr area and the applicant Essen are on their way to reinvent themselves” (Citation: Bid-campaign office 2010, City of Essen, Ruhr Regional Development Association RVR, free translation).

These remarks shall provide possible starting points for the project which has to be submitted. A connection of the artistic work to special local or regional conditions in the environment of the studio (city district, city, Ruhr area) is explicitly desirable and should also be drafted in the project description. Further overlapping approaches for a project concept can be e.g. the following complexes of topic:

• starting points of collective history
• integration and participation
• internationality and local identity
• migration in and to Europe
• social environments and artistic spheres
• business locations and culture nations
• ideal conceptions and frightening images

Formal Application Conditions

All artists of Estonian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Slovak, Slovenian, Czech and Hungarian citizenship are invited to apply, regardless of their current country of residence on condition of full legal age. A good command of the English language in speaking and writing is necessary. A knowledge of the German language would be an advantage. Persons in steady employment cannot apply if he/she can’t be permanently present as required by the rules of the scholarhip. Holding a university degree in art/fine arts or a corresponding artistic education is desirable but not a condition. Students are also eligible if, according to the jury, their application shows their work to be professional and prolific. Recent professional work (form the last three years) needs to be proven by handing in a portfolio, work samples, information on exhibitions or exhibition catalogues. The project description, included in the application documents, needs to show a profound interest in the artistic reflection with the thematic conditions of the scholarship.

Application Procedure

Application deadlines

• application deadline:                                         by 31st of January 2006
• preselection and main jury meeting:                   February 2006
• final jury decision and notification of applicants:  end of February 2006

Application documents