16. INTERNATIONALE BILDHAUERSYMPOSION des Skulpturen Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.

Two-phase application process for the 16th INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUM organized by Skulpturen Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.

Art connects—it inspires, fosters, and uplifts. This was also the main reason why the association “Skulpturen Rheinland-Pfalz” became a partner as early as 2011 in the internationally oriented project “Road of Peace – Road of Sculptures in Europe – Otto Freundlich Society e.V.”

Nearly a century ago, this German-Jewish artist (1878–1943), guided by his pacifist convictions, conceived the idea of placing sculptures in the open countryside as tangible symbols of peace in Europe. In 1979, the sculptor Leo Kornbrust (1929–2021) rediscovered Otto Freundlich’s nearly lost legacy. Since then, work has been underway to bring this idea to life.

The goal is to create a sculpture route stretching across Europe, intended as a symbol against war and designed to help deepen understanding among the individual countries. The west-east route (4,000 km) connects the coast of Normandy with Moscow, while the northsouth route (1,500 km) connects Amsterdam with the Pyrenees. Today, there are over 500 sculptures along the two routes, and an international network of art projects and peace initiatives has been established...

1.0 Concept

Title: Shaping the Future Together

Both society and a community always require the active participation of every individual to remain vibrant. Only through the contribution of ideas and visions, as well as active support in any form, is it possible to actively shape both social and geographical spaces.

1.1 Client and Process

Since 1990, the association “Skulpturen Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.” has been organizing symposia in the greater Palatinate Forest area and neighboring regions. To date, 15 symposia have been held. The artists have primarily worked with sandstone, metal, and wood.

Please learn more about our work here:

https://www.skulpturenverein-rlp.de

The nonprofit association “Skulpturen Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.” is announcing a call for submissions from sculptors and artists to solicit design proposals for the 15th International Sculpture Symposium. The symposium will take place in the summer of 2028 near Kaiserslautern, Germany. Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements and must cover their own travel expenses. The artist’s fee is 5,000 euros. The association will cover room and board. The association will provide the materials used by the artists. Tools and consumables are the responsibility of the artists.

1.2 Selection Process

The selection process will be conducted as an open, two-phase process.

In the first phase, artists may express their interest in participating in the competition and submit the required documents by December 31, 2026. From the submissions received during the first application phase, 25 artists will be selected and invited to participate in the second phase. In the second phase, the selection process is anonymous. Participants selected for the second phase are asked to submit their designs by August 31, 2027, at the latest, and to confirm their participation. By participating, each artist agrees to the terms and conditions of the call for entries.

1.3 Participants

We invite all professional freelance sculptors to submit their ideas and concepts. It should be expressly noted that the association also welcomes concepts from related art forms (e.g., land art). Artists who have already participated in one of the previous symposia organized by the association “Skulpturen Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.” are excluded from participation.

1.4 Description of the Selection Process

The selection of the application materials submitted during the first phase is carried out by representatives of the association “Skulpturen Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.” and a panel consisting of art experts and freelance artists. The designs submitted for the anonymous second phase will be evaluated by representatives of Skulpturen Rheinland-Pfalz e.V. and a panel of 3/6 experts. The designs will be anonymized by the association’s secretary, who is not a member of the panel.

1.5 Content and Purpose

The sculptures from the 2028 Symposium will find their permanent home in the hilly region of the Western Palatinate. Vast views of the landscape allow the sculptures to be visually connected with one another. In terms of content, a connection to the “Road of Peace” art concept is desired.

We would like to ask the artists to incorporate these possibilities into their designs and to familiarize themselves in advance with the concept of the “Road of Peace.” Information on this topic is available for download in many languages at the bottom of this page:

http://strasse-des-friedens.com/.

Skulpturen Rheinland-Pfalz e.V. is a member of the Sculpture Road of Peace.

We are seeking designs that can be realized as either a freestanding sculpture or a largescale, multi-part installation. Concepts drawn from the broader fields of sculpture and land art are expressly encouraged. The client expects a design created specifically for this project. Each participant may submit only one design. (Collaborative groups count as a single participant.) The materials used must be processed in such a way that there is no risk of injury and that the sculptures can be permanently installed outdoors. The foundations and installation of the finished sculptures were carried out in accordance with structural engineering principles and the artists’ specifications, by the site and at the association’s expense.

1.6 Copyright

Copyright, including the right to publish the designs, remains with the artist. The association “Skulpturen Rheinland-Pfalz e.V.” is interested in publishing the artworks it has commissioned for documentation purposes. The artists grant the client, without additional compensation, the right to take photographs that may be used for documentary purposes without commercial intent.

2.0 Schedule and Deadlines

The deadline for the first application phase is December 31, 2026. The deadline for the second application phase is August 31, 2027.

Please send the relevant documents as PDF files (no larger than 3 MB) to info@skulpturenverein- rlp.de.

The symposium will take place from July 30, 2028, through September 3, 2028.

Materials that may be used include: Sandstone Steel/metal Wood, if applicable.

2.1 Formal Requirements

For the first phase of the application process, the organizer expects a comprehensive presentation of the applicant’s artistic work to date. Please provide detailed documentation of your previous work in the open air and in the landscape. Please send the materials via email to the email address listed above. Please refrain from sending catalogs. Materials will not be returned, unless requested by the applicant at their own expense.

The documents for the second phase should be compiled as follows:

• Design (sketch of elevations) on a 1:20 scale (If necessary to clarify the concept, the scale may be adjusted; however, to ensure comparability, a detailed representation at the specified scale is required.)

• Explanation of the overall spatial context at a scale of your choice.

• Brief explanatory report (description of the concept and design intent) on no more than one DIN A4 page

• Information on materials, manufacturing techniques, installation conditions, and, if applicable, structural requirements, on no more than one DIN A4 page

In all pieces, submissions for the second anonymous phase must not bear the author’s name or signature and must be identified only by a six-digit identification number. By signing, the author certifies that he or she is the intellectual creator of the work.

3.0. Inquiries

Any inquiries regarding the call for proposals may be submitted in writing via email to

info@skulpturen-rheinland-pfalz.de

by December 31, 2026. Please do not contact the organizer by phone

4.0 Liability

The organizer is liable for the loss or damage of submitted works only if it is proven that the organizer is at fault.

5.0. Completion of the Work

The completion and installation of the artworks must take place by the end of the symposium.

6.0. Documentation

The artwork will be documented by the client. The artist will provide the client with biographical information and an explanatory text for publication.