Paris 13th Call for International Applicants

Semapa, an urban development company of the Paris Rive Gauche area in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, is launching an international call for applications open to all forms of artistic creation. The artwork will be located nearby the François Mitterrand Library - National Library of France, on a public site currently under construction. The project should draw on the specificities of its surroundings and contribute to both the attractivity and the centrality of this blooming urban area. The provisional budget, including fees and production costs, amounts to 600.000 euros, excluding taxes. Candidates must complete and send their application before Friday, March 3rd 2012.

PRESENTATION

Context

Paris Rive Gauche is a vast urban planning project set up by the Paris City Board. Over the last few years this former industrial area, bordered on one side by the Seine River and on the other by the dense network of railroads that converge to the Gare d’Austerlitz train station, has rapidly developed into a lively neighbourhood where housing estates and office buildings stand side by side with universities, schools, shops, public infrastructures, and parks. By covering up sections of the railroads, this urban project intends to create an urban continuity not only on the inner-city scale but also by reaching out to its neighbouring suburbs.

Geographical situation

A public site, planned above the aforementioned railroads, is in development nearby the François Mitterrand Library - National Library of France enabling the creation of a stronger link between the 13th arrondissement to its South with the River Seine to its North. Bordered on one side by a building designed by the architect Rudy Ricciotti which will contain apartments, offices, and shops, and on the other by a housing project due in 2017, this public site will host a building in the style of a French « guinguette »/cultural area adding to the liveliness of the district.

Aims of the artistic project

Drawing on the specificities and the evolution of its surroundings, the artwork will contribute to enhance and assert the attractivity and the centrality of the site as a bridge between two parts of the city and, on a larger scale, of this blooming area. It will also act as a link between several public sites which have already proven themselves favourable to pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
The artwork is scheduled for completion for the final quarter of 2013

Selection criteria

The provisional budget, including fees and production costs, amounts to 600.000 euros, excluding taxes.
The selection will take place in two steps.
The first part will be open to all applicants; a maximum of five artists will be selected to participate in the second phase. Each of these artists will have until the final trimester of 2012 to produce sketches on the basis of the contract specifications. Each of these proposals will be compensated in the amount of 15.000 euros, including taxes.

Information: www.semapa.fr