Create land art or recycled art for the Mariemont domain

What?

Mariemont wishes to enrich its cultural offering as an exceptional venue dedicated to artistic expression. This is an invitation to artists of land art and recycled art from Belgium and Europe to create works inspired by the Mariemont domain.

Visitors will have the opportunity to wander through a trail of ephemeral works of art, alongside creations by emblematic Belle Époque artists
such as Rodin and Lambeau. Through this project, Mariemont intensifies its dialogue between art, nature and culture, while affirming its support to contemporary creation, a mission that it strives to promote in each of its temporary exhibitions.

From spring 2024 and for a period of four months, the estate will be brought to life in a playful, poetic and artistic way, for the benefit of visitors and tourists.

VENUE & DATES

Exhibition in the Mariemont domain (exterior, see specific locations below): 18 May – 22 September 2024

NUMBER OF PROJECTS SELECTED

A minimum of 4 to 6 projects will be selected to form an arts trail in the domain.
A project may consist of a single installation or a series of installations.

THEMES

1. Poetic dialogue with emblematic trees specific to the Mariemont domain, in particular the great cedar of Lebanon;
2. Artistic interpretations of the 500 years of European history of Mariemont, in particular Mary of Hungary (16th century), sister of the Emperor Charles V, the ruins of Charles de Loraine’s castle (18th century), the Winter Garden and Roman Bath (19th century), Raoul Warocqué’s Mausoleum (early 20th century), the museum building by the architect Roger Bastin (late 20th century);
3. Original creations or prototypes that serve a reflection on improving well-being and inclusion in the Mariemont domain (furniture, rest areas, games, etc.);
4. General reflections on the role of nature and ecology in our world threatened by global warming.

TYPES OF WORKS AND INSTALLATION

• Land art and Recycled art, for outdoor display in a domain/park.
• New or existing creations.
• Materials and assemblies with a minimum life expectancy of 4 months.
• Materials accepted:
  • Plants: wood, grass, foliage, fruit etc. from the domain
  • Minerals: sand, stone, water, gravel, earth, metal;
  • Industrial or recycled waste: rubber, metal, plastic, fabric
• Media accepted (outdoor or indoor installation to be assessed by the organizers):
  • sound
  • image
  • text
  • video

The physical materials will either come from the domain (branches, foliage etc.) or from elsewhere, or will be bought or found locally. Creators must be technically capable of producing and assembling the work themselves, in accordance with the description of the proposed concept.

Creators are advised to have the necessary tools at their disposal and to work with their own tools.

The Orangery (a type of large barn with an earthen floor and no power source) will be available from April to May 2024, to store or assemble materials and prepare for final assembly. But this is not a place for long-term work, nor a place to keep sophisticated tools.

Language Preference will be given to creators with a minimum knowledge of French to facilitate understanding of the field as well as the production and communication of the project, or knowledge of English.

TIMETABLE

• 22 December 2023: Launch of the call
• 16 January 2023: Visit of the domain at 14:00, optional
• 31 January 2024: Deadline for applications (form)
• 2 February 2024: Jury
• 7 February 2024: Announcement of the selection
• March-April 2024: Design, production
• 9-17 May2024: Installation with all the artists
• 18 May2024: Public opening, during the day, with guided tour
• 22 September 2024: Closing
• 23 September: Dismantling

How to apply?

Please find the application form on our website.

Applicants are invited to submit the completed questionnaire, together with explanatory visuals (photos, drawings) if desired.

Deadline: 31 January 2024, to the following email address: justine.periaux@musee-mariemont.be

Read the full call and conditions

ELIGIBILITY

The project may be presented by an artist or group of artists, an association, a design or architecture studio. The applicant must have a status that allows invoices to be paid. The project also encourages a partnership with one or more technical schools or an activity involving the participation of the widest and most diverse audiences. Artists need to be residents of Belgium or Europe.

SELECTION CRITERIA

A selection jury will be made up of members of staff from the Mariemont Museum and external local experts in the field of contemporary creation. The jury will select a minimum of 4 to 6 projects according to the following criteria, and according to the coherence and diversity of the ensemble and the desired presence of at least one non-Belgian European creator or collective. The selection process is anonymous.

1. Relevance for Mariemont (i.e. response to one of the 4 themes);
2. European values conveyed (peace, inclusion, citizenship, democracy, human rights, gender equality, sustainability, dialogue between cultures, breaking down social barriers);
3. European priorities conveyed (promotion of cultural and natural heritage, cultural diversity, Green Deal, New European Bauhaus);
4. Originality;
5. Artistic quality;
6. Technical and logistical feasibility (installation feasible with the loan of a ladder, wheelbarrow; work not requiring electricity or lighting; installation autonomous or with technical assistance at most);
7. Financial feasibility (detailed and realistic production budget, not exceeding €3. 000);
8. Autonomy and longevity (work standing alone for 4 months in resistance to the elements);
9. Safety and stability (presenting no danger to the public; not requiring security guards);
10. Participatory approach in the design process, installation, or during the life of the work;
11. Accessibility for a family and young public.

More information

• about the museum: musee-mariemont.be
• Read the full call and conditions