27 Feb 2014

Kunst Kraft Werk: Open Call 2015

KUNST KRAFT WERK OPEN CALL 2015:
Entry Deadline: May 1, 2014
Notification by email: May 15, 2014
Click here for a downloadable pdf of the open call (with floorplans and specs)
www.kunstkraftwerk-leipzig.de/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/KKW_opencall2015.pdf

The Kunst Kraft Werk is pleased to announce our first open call for exhibition proposals, for the 2015 program. Qualified candidates include international and local curators, corporate and cultural institutions, museums, individual artists, group initiatives, and collectives, working in all mediums, with a preference for interdisciplinary practice. Both contemporary and art historical exhibitions are welcomed. There is no set exhibition formula. The number, duration and spacing of the exhibitions are left to the discretion of the KKW, as the space is used for multiple purposes throughout the year. Our exhibition space and grounds are particularly well-suited for large scale sculpture, both outdoor and indoor, as well as installation, video projection, and performance. A module wall system allows for two-dimensional works to be shown as well, and for the interior space to be adjusted for each exhibition's needs. Since our space is currently under renovation, it is important to state that our design objective is not a white cube, however our intention is to maintain the industrial aesthetic of the former gasworks, while encorporating a new lighting/heating/sound system, stage, storage area, restaurant, beer garden, and grill station. Please look at the photos on our website of the space in its current condition. Our architectural objective is to leave some of the large machines in place, while removing others. The roof will be replaced however the beams will be exposed, the windows will be opened, the floor leveled, and the walls sandblasted. The artwork shown in this space must be able to compete with the rough atmosphere or be complimented by it, rather than be swallowed into it.

There are two categories to submit your concepts. The exhibition program and the online journal ding an sich. The exhibition program is completely open thematically. We are especially interested in projects that are accompanied by a program of activities, artist's talks, or lectures. If the entry is a group project, one person must be chosen from that group to represent it and act as a mediator. The selected projects will be required to sign a contract with the KKW, agreeing to respect all the obligations inherent to his/her function and especially the specific fullfilment of the project concept. The KKW will provide their exhibition space free of rental costs to the project, providing for the utility costs of the building; staffing during exhibition opening times; technical assistance for install and destall; professional graphic design, printing costs and advertisement/promotion of the exhibition and opening events; professional photographing of the exhibition; translation of texts into German; insurance of the artworks while in the KKW; administrative correspondence, support, and organization; and inclusion into the annual catalog. For the selected projects, depending on the necessities of his/her project and relation to the KKW, responsibilities may comprise of, among others: the selection and localization of the works; the supervision of the relations with the artists and loaners, and overseeing the production of works; the participation in writing press material and, where appropriate, the selection of activities surrounding the exhibition and the editorial direction of their project chapter in our annual catalog (writing at least one text in their native language and in English). On a project to project basis, chosen projects can anticipate financial responsibility for the expenses and organization of the insured transport of the works both to and from the KKW; all expenses incurred by the production of the works, artist's fees, curator's fees, author's fees, and/or the operation costs of their home institution; travel and/or hotel expenses of the participants, visa application fees and customs fees. All work, unless indicated that it is not for sale (NFS), will be available for purchase during the exhibitions. The KKW will retain a commission on all artwork sold during the exhibition, and will provide a contract detailing the conditions/responsibilites of all parties.

When applying to the online journal ding an sich, applicants are open to submit original works by their authorship when still holding first right copyrights. Previously published works can be accepted depending upon the republishing agreements made by the author with previous publications both online and in print. The length limit of works is 3 pages, and must be written in German and/or English. A basic contractual agreement for web publication will be made between the KKW and the author. At this time we cannot provide for any writer's fees. The first topic of discussion for the journal that we'd like to address is the building of a new cultural institution, pointing to the questions we now ask ourselves by opening the forum to the public. A range of contributions is sought, from case studies, research and curatorial papers, prose and auto-didactic essays. What does an ideal cultural institution look like in 2014, who does it really serve, what kind of social impact can it have, what utopic ideals should it strive for? To what level should it be involved in socio-political issues and ethics? So on and so forth.

How to apply
By email, send to candace.goodrich@kunstkraftwerk-leipzig.com

-In the email subject line write: YOUR LASTNAME, FIRSTNAME or INSTITUTION NAME then JOURNAL.01 or EXHIBITION.2015
For example: GOODRICH,CANDACE JOURNAL.01 or GOODRICH,CANDACE EXHIBITION.2015
-Attach a single PDF of either your ding an sich text or a single PDF for the exhibition call.

For the exhibition call, please include:
-8 images with corresponding author, title, media, and dimensions for each image
-a one page conceptual proposal in German and/or English
-one page CV's or biographies of all participating artists, including nationality and/or city of birth, and year of birth
-detailed budget plan
-at least 2 possible times of year when you would like to make this exhibition, the duration of your proposed exhibition (complex installations and sculpture will be limited to exhibition lengths of a maximum of 3 weeks), and the amount of space needed to realize your project

If you have questions, please contact Candace Goodrich, Art Director, Kunst Kraft Werk – candace.goodrich@kunstkraftwerk-leipzig.com.