For applications

Principal country concerned : Column : Fine arts
Release/publication date : September 2004
Published on : 13/07/2004
Source : "Mate Kovacs"

1. Introduction.
Never like before , arts and culture have become parts and parcels of our diversity. Indeed , being creative in a world inhabited by the hatred of globalisation and unification, in societies which tend to be standardised economically and socially, seems to be one of the greatest artistic and aesthetic challenges of this third millennium. The shoe pinches when it comes to being aware of the necessity of artistic and aesthetic invention within the traditions we belong to. The Universal Declaration on cultural diversity, voted by the UNESCO General Conference in November 2001, should be in a position to contribute to take it into account at the political level. he role of museums and training institutions is of paramount importance. Today's contemporary art is meant to become the world and national artistic patrimony, isn't it ?

The Pan African Visual Arts contest organised by the National Museum of Mali, would like to contribute to promote the implementation of the need of artistic diversity in the world of fine arts.

2. The National Museum of Mali

The National Museum of Mali is a museum of arts of archaeology and civilisation. As a heir of the Sudanese museum of Bamako inaugurated in 1954, the National Museum has opened itself to a new architecture since it was recreated in 1981, reminding all the expressions which are the cornerstones of Malian culture through its past and present.

The National Museum built new rooms to host exhibitions and events for different audiences in 2003. It aims at getting more involved in supporting and promoting contemporary artistic expressions.

3. The Prize
The UNESCO prize for the promotion of arts is meant, according to M.Kaii Higashiyama's ideals, to reward outstanding creations by young artists or groups of artists in the field of fine arts (painting, sculpture and graphic arts), and to make them enjoy their life as artists. This prize has often been given in the framework of arts and culture events with regional or international scope.

For the first time, it will comprise a contest which will lead in the future to an exhibition which will be attended by winners of this Pan African contest. This exhibition will also showcase works of arts stemming from Malian contemporary artists and from other countries of the sub region (Senegal, Burkina Faso, Benin, Ivory Coast).

Through this Prize, the artists who are willing to participate to this contest are encouraged to present works of arts in which creativity, innovation and identity are combined in one single concept, the work of arts. Prizes as well as special congratulations will be granted to the most appealing works.

The prizes sponsored by the Higashiyama fund and managed by the Federation Nationale des Associations de l'UESCO au Japon (NFUAJ). It will be given by the Managing Director of UNESCO, Mr Koichiro Matsuura and will consist in 4 prizes:

- First prize: 5,000 US dollars

- Second prize: 3,000 US Dollars


- Third prize: 2,000 US Dollars

- Fourth prize : 2,000 US Dollars

4. The choice of winners

The aim of this prize is to support young talented artists in the field of visual arts.
· The artists must not be more than 45 years old.
· The competitors are convened to present a homogenous set of their own works of arts (not more than 10 produced between 2000 and 2004).
· The winners of the contest will be convened to exhibit their works (or part of them) at the National Museum of Mali. Then exhibition at the National Museum of Mali is co-sponsored by UNESCO, Africalia and the Service de Coopération et d'Action Culturelle of the French Embassy in Mali, Bamoko.
· The prized works of arts must be outstanding creative works combining creativity, inventiveness and identity.

5. How to apply?
All the applications in the field of visual arts (painting, drawing, sculpture, video, computer aided arts, etc.) are welcome according to the conditions listed below:
1. Only one set of works will be accepted per artists. The applications must be written in French or in English.
2. The works will be presented in photos (format maximum A4) and submitted in a file.
3. The size of the file must be between 5 and 7 pages in a A4 format. The application must comprise: the title of the series, an abstract of 500 words, the theme of the works, a description o the work/ a technical description.
4. A short biography (2/3 pages maximum in A4 format) which presents the professional training, performed exhibitions and activities; the credentials (phone number and e-mail address) of the artist as well as the photo must be enclosed in the CV.
5. A paper to testify that the work is original and produced by the artist or the group of artists.
6. All applications must reach the National Museum of Mali by postal mail or/and by e-mail, before august 30th 2004.
7. Enclose the here -enclosed form to the application file well written and signed and send it to :
The address of the Museum
Musée National du Mali
For M. Samuel SIDIBE, Director
Route de Koulouba
BP 159
Bamako
République du Mali
E mail : musee@afribone.net.ml
Tel: (223) 222 34 86 ; Fax (223) 223 19 09
NB: The French Cultural Centre of your country can help you to send your application file.

The Jury
The international jury summoned by the Managing Director of UNESCO will meet in Bamoko (Mali) from September 15th to 19th 2004 in order to short list the candidates. It will comprise prominent artists, critics and historians of Arts from different parts of the world.

Organizers

- UNESCO:
Mrs Teresa WAGNER (CLT/ACE/ACD UNESCO, PARIS), coordinator of the UNESCO Prize for the Promotion of Arts, 2004-08-10

M.F. Edouard MATOKO, Director of the Bureau Multi-pays of UNESCO in Bamoko (Mali)

M.Vincent SECK, Programme Culture specialist, Bureau Multi-pays of UNESCO in Bamoko (Mali)

- National Museum of Mali:
M. Samuel SIDIBE, Manager

M. Abdoulaye KONATE, Manager of the Conservatoire des Arts Multimedias BFK in Bamoko (Mali)

- Service de Cooperation et d'Action Culturelle at the French Embassy in Mali:
Mrs Nicole SEURAT, Manager of the French Cultural Centre in Bamoko (Mali)

· Technical Organisation Committee
M. Samuel SIDIBE, Manager of the National Museum of Mali

Mrs Teresa WAGNER (CLT/ACE/ACD UNESCO PARIS), Coordinator of the UNESCO Prize for the Promotion of Arts, 2004

M. Vincent SECK, Programme Culture Specialist, Bureau Multi-pays of UNESCO in Bamoko (Mali)

M. Abdoulaye KONATE, Manager of the Conservatoire des Arts Multimedias BFK in Bamoko (Mali)

Mrs Nicole SEURAT, Manager of the French Cultural Centre in Bamoko (Mali)

Mrs Aminata Sall, Secretary General of the Malian National Commission for UNESCO in Bamoko (Mali)

Contact: M. Samuel SIDIBE
Address :
Manager of the National Museum of Mali
Route de Koulouba
BP 159
Bamako
Republic of Mali
Tel (223) 222 34 86
Fax (223) 223 19 09
E-mail: musee@afribone.net.ml

QUESTIONNNAIRE Submitted to applicants

UNESCO prize for the Promotion of Arts, 2004

Name,

Surname,

Address, tel., fax,

E-mail:

Title of the set of works submitted

Technique used

Signature

Partners

  • Arterial network
  • Media, Sports and Entertainment Group (MSE)
  • Gens de la Caraïbe
  • Groupe 30 Afrique
  • Alliance Française VANUATU
  • PACIFIC ARTS ALLIANCE
  • FURTHER ARTS
  • Zimbabwe : Culture Fund Of Zimbabwe Trust
  • RDC : Groupe TACCEMS
  • Rwanda : Positive Production
  • Togo : Kadam Kadam
  • Niger : ONG Culture Art Humanité
  • Collectif 2004 Images
  • Africultures Burkina-Faso
  • Bénincultures / Editions Plurielles
  • Africiné
  • Afrilivres

With the support of