OPEN CALL FOR EXHIBITION PROPOSALS FOR THE ALBANIAN PAVILION AT THE 17th INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE EXHIBITION Biennale Architettura 2020

VENICE, 23.05.2020 – 29.11 2020

In the framework of the 17^th Venice Architecture Biennale to be held in Venice, Italy, the Albanian Ministry of Culture, as the Commissioner of the Albanian Pavilion, is seeking expressions of interest for project proposals for the exhibition at the Albanian Pavilion, which will be opened to the public on May 23 until November 29, 2020.

“How will we live together”

The Curator Hashim Sarkis titled the 17^th International Architecture Exhibition “How will we live together”, and explained his decision as follows:

We need a new spatial contract. In the context of widening political divides and growing economic inequalities, we call on architects to imagine spaces in which we can generously live together:

• as human beings who, despite our increasing individuality, yearn to connect with one another and with other species across digital and real space;
• as new households looking for more diverse and dignified spaces for inhabitation;
• as emerging communities that demand equity, inclusion and spatial identity;
• across political borders to imagine new geographies of association;
• as a planet facing crises that require global action for us to continue living at all.

More information on the theme can be found on the web page of the Biennale Architettura 2020, www.labiennale.org

The Ministry of Culture opens the call for project ideas inspired by a careful observation of contemporary architecture and Albanian society, especially where this makes a difference, as well as the visual means through which they will be communicated to the general public and professionals.

Biennale Architettura 2020 also maintains that it is in its material, spatial, and cultural specificity that architecture inspires the ways we live together. In that respect, the participants have to highlight those aspects of the main theme that are uniquely architectural.

The profile of the candidates:

1. We are looking for a multidisciplinary exhibition team (composed of architect(s) (team leader), artists, graphic designer(s), art critics, craftspeople, urban sociologist, urban planner, etc. which:
2. Demonstrate to have knowledge about Albanian architecture.
3. Have national and/or international experience in the field of architecture, urbanism and landscape which will be proven by respective portfolios.
4. This call is open to any nationality.

The candidate(s) should be able to:

1. Conduct research and develop an integrated curatorial design project idea accompanied by a coherent curatorial narrative
2. Develop an integrated curatorial project idea for the Albanian Pavilion, along with the producing and/or sourcing the exhibition content such as: photography, installations, written materials for exhibition panels and any other related texts.
3. To create a cultural programme composed by cultural side events which will be organized during the days the exhibition will be opened for the public
4. -To implement and manage the whole project successfully.

The Ministry of Culture encourages all candidates to co-operate with national and/or foreign curators who have the appropriate experience in organizing and participating in similar events.

SELECTION WILL BE DONE IN TWO PHASES:

Phase 1: In this stage the best project ideas will be selected. Deadline of this phase:

October 20, 2019, 24.00 hrs.

The Jury will select 3 (three) project ideas which will be qualified for the second phase.

The Jury will announce the best three projects idea by October 25, 2019.

Phase 2: The three selected teams will be invited to work up a fully detailed exhibition concept which will be presented to the Jury. These detailed concepts should be submitted by the latest on December 15, 2019, 24.00 hrs.

The Jury will announce the criteria for the detailed project proposal immediately after the announcement of the shortlist of three teams.

The announcement of the winning project: December 20, 2020.

THE SELECTION PROCEDURE

The project ideas and the detailed project proposals will be evaluated by an international Jury composed of 5 members. The evaluation of the Jury will judge proposals on the basis of:

1. Clarity of the project proposal;
2. Imaginative quality of the concept;
3. Potential of the project idea to communicate with the public;
4. Clarity of the theme and the potential for making it communicable, tangible and visible to the audience;
5. Artistic and visual strength of the project proposal and its capacity to be translated into a strong visual language and landscape;
6. Strength of the team/studio to reflect in a broad and deep sense on the given theme and to bring ways to add to the knowledge;
7. Capacity and experience of communicating architecture to the critics and the public alike, and of developing new audiences for architecture.

APPLICATION DOSSIER FOR THE FIRST PHASE

The application should include:

1. The application form (download it here)
2. A clearly articulated summary on how the project will relate to the theme “How will we live together” (not more than 1000 words)
3. Method of investigation and anticipated findings, and how this will come into existence by means of reflection and creation
4. Image(s) that illustrate the exhibition proposal, setting, etc.
5. Portfolios of previous works of the team/studio
6. CV’s of the members of the team and its leader (not more than one page)

The candidates are free to choose whichever means and forms of introducing their project proposals. They are kindly invited to follow the guidelines provided by the Curators of the Biennale which can be found at www.labiennale.org.

Technical Details on the Albanian Pavilion

The Albanian Pavilion will be situated in “Arsenale”. You will find the plan and relevant photos here.

Submission of application:

The complete application should be:

1. Prepared in two languages: Albanian and English
2. Sent by mail (printed and in digital form) to the attention of the technical secretariat of the Bienale 2020 at the following address: Ministry of Culture, Rruga “Aleksander Moisiu”, nr. 76, ish Kinostudio “Shqiperia e Re”, Tirana, Albania
3. Sent electronically to the e-mail address: bienale2020@kultura.gov.al
4. Submitted no later than October 20, 2019, 24.00 hrs (Phase 1)