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The Collective Foundation invites visual artists to submit proposals for site-specific art installations related to the conservation of Sofia's rivers, particularly the Perlovska River, for the Rivers of Sofia Festival.
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Get matched →The Collective Foundation announces a competition for visual art installations related to the conservation of Sofia’s rivers, their past, and their possible future as spaces for the intersection of nature and culture. The competition is implemented as part of the project “Rivers of Sofia 2025 – Time Machine,” under the “Festivals” program 2024 of the National Culture Fund.
Rivers of the City is a long-term initiative by the Collective Foundation aimed at re-establishing the connection between cities and their rivers. It began in 2020 with the Rivers of Sofia Festival, which demonstrated how cultural events and temporary architectural interventions can transform riverbanks into accessible and open spaces for people. Since then, the initiative has spread to more cities across the country—including Ruse, Veliko Tarnovo, Gabrovo, Stara Zagora, Troyan, and others—creating an ecosystem of like-minded individuals at local, national, and European levels who join efforts for cleaner rivers for all.
The sixth edition of the Rivers of Sofia Festival will take place over three days, on 29-31 August. Perlovska River in Sofia’s South Park will be transformed with temporary stages for events, urban furniture, lighting, and wooden bridges to make the riverbanks more accessible to people. The focus of the intervention will be on visual arts and their role in combining aesthetic impact with an ecological message. Through interactive installations and cultural events, the festival aims to engage a wide audience, including families with children, youth, and elderly citizens, addressing themes of river conservation in urban environments.
This open call is aimed at visual artists who will create a site-specific installation for this year’s Rivers of Sofia festival. Artworks should address current issues related to the problems and/or potential of rivers in urban environments, particularly focusing on the Perlovska River, and present an innovative perspective. Artists have the freedom to explore the concept of beauty (or its absence) in and around rivers, highlight aspects of diverse flora and fauna, and imagine improvements in water cleanliness, biodiversity, and public access to rivers. The artworks will be positioned in a pre-designed zone around Perlovska River in Sofia’s South Park and must be adapted to the park environment. Artists are free to select a specific location within the festival’s scope or in adjacent spaces along the Perlovska River. Installations can also be placed directly in the river, but the design should allow for quick dismantling and removal in case of rain or raising water levels.
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The artworks and their installation methods must be gentle on the park environment and existing infrastructure, leaving no visible traces or damage after their removal. The use of eco-friendly, repurposed, and recycled materials is preferred.
Artists are encouraged to consider an accompanying programme that engages festival visitors with the art installation and the theme of rivers. The programme may include artist talks, presentations, curated tours, creative workshops, performances, and other formats aimed at engaging a diverse audience with the artwork’s message.
The competition will support the execution of 5 project proposals. The artworks will be exhibited and presented by the artists during the Rivers of Sofia Festival.