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Artistic Competition of the KVB Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG
Design of the new North-South Light Railway Cologne
(Nord-Süd Stadtbahn Köln)

Call for entries
Submission Deadline 31 July 2007

For further information please consult the section Kunst/Art at:
http://www.nord-sued-stadtbahn.de

contact: art@neumann-luz.de

The KVB Kölner Verkehrs-Betriebe AG (the public transport company of the city of Cologne) have initiated an international art competition for the artistic design of eight stations - seven below and one above ground - of the new North-South Light Railway Cologne (Nord-Süd Stadtbahn Köln).

In two resolutions of the Cologne City Council on 14 November 2002 and 4 April 2006 the KVB, as awarding authority of this major underground railway project, were commissioned to organise the competition, which was launched on 18 May 2007 with the international call for submissions. National and international artists are to be involved in this multi-stage international art competition. Through the artistic design of the stations, the "city below" shall be made accessible for both Cologne's inhabitants and its visitors as a new place of discovery which sensitises us for associating with art, and at the same time makes an important contribution to the discussion about topics of urban living, the "city before our eyes". The financial means for the competition, including the realisation of the art works, amount to 1.75 million euros.

Application procedures

The competition will be run in two phases with a preliminary application procedure. The preliminary application procedure is open to national and international artists who can prove themselves experienced with projects in public space in general, and with buildings and interiors in particular. With proof of no more than three already executed projects the entrants should illustrate the way in which their art conceives space as a unity, and explain the use of spatial references.

Out of the applicants of the preliminary application procedure, 27 artists or artist groups will be accepted for the first phase, to which further 13 artists have been separately and directly invited in the run-up to the competition, namely: Baren-brock + Osterwald (D), Guillaume Bijl (B), Ceal Floyer (NL), Doris Frohnapfel (D), Hans Haacke (USA), Stefan Hofmann (D), Peter Kogler (A), Thomas Schoenauer (D), Stefan Sous (D), Joëlle Tuerlinckx (B), Brigitta Weimer (D), Lawrence Weiner (USA), and Eusebius Wirdeier (D). In October 2007 these 40 artists or artist groups will be asked to develop a basic concept of their planned entry.

Starting in May 2008, the second phase will require ten selected artists re-spectively groups of artists to refine their ideas into tangible plans. Out of these ten proposals the competition jury will select the finalist, or even finalists, as it is in the jury's power to recommend that the KVB commission one artist or artist group for each separate station, special construction or tunnel section. The winner or winners will be announced in April 2009. It is planned to display the proposals submitted for the second phase in an exhibition, for the benefit of an interested public and of the competing artists. The realisation of art works is scheduled to finish by the end of 2010.

Entrants to the preliminary, open phase must submit their documents by 31 July 2007.

Rules and information relating to the competition can be downloaded at:
http://www.nord-sued-stadtbahn.de

Queries can be addressed to Kathrin Luz at art@neumann-luz.de

This was posted on e-Flux.