“Contrei live! highlights the region’s landscape in an extraordinary manner, using water as the guiding principle. The project seeks to question, to amaze and create connections between locations, between generations, between art and landscape, between dream and action.
This call for proposal is an open call to artists, (landscape) architects, designers or creators to submit a first draft proposal before April 17. More information about the procedure and proposed locations via the web page, in below and in the document provided at the bottom of this page.

Context
2020 marks the 60th anniversary of Intercommunale Leiedal, which we wish to celebrate by highlighting in a unique way the space and landscape we are active in – the territories of the 13 cities and municipalities in South-West-Flanders. The aim is to allow both residents and visitors to discover the region through a new lens by means of a number of artistic interventions at the intersection between art, design, architecture and landscape. Land art tailored to the location(s).

With Contrei Live, Leiedal aims to achieve a large-scale art trail establishing the link between spatial developments, water, and (international) art. From June to October 2020, this journey along a series of land art interventions will mobilise a broad audience, supported by targeted campaigns (culture, tourism, regional marketing, etc.). By highlighting the landscape and water, the art trail enhances the spatial transition of South-West-Flanders. It highlights the region’s landscape in an extraordinary manner, using water as the guiding principle. The project seeks to amaze and create connections between locations, between generations, between art and landscape, between dream and action. However, this artistic voyage of discovery is part of a broader picture. Under the motto to think, do, and dance; Leidal is joining forces with a range of partners for an anniversary year centred around ‘collaborating on a region in transition’.

Step 1: Call for concept proposals

This call for proposals is a broad call to artists, (landscape) architects, designers, or creators to submit an initial concept proposal. To this end, the necessary project sheets with information on the various locations are made available.

The concept proposal must contain at least the following elements:

• The underlying principle behind the project or the narrative being presented
• A descriptive text, draft, or illustration of the intervention
• The mobilising nature of the work
• A rough estimate of the intervention cost
• A brief portfolio

The concept proposal comprises at the most three A4 sheets, recto and verso. The concept proposals must be submitted at the latest on Wednesday 17 April 2019 via the application form on the web page.

In the second half of April, a jury with representatives of the local authorities and representatives from the art world will select a number of artists, (landscape) architects, designers, or creators based on the submitted concept proposals. Then the local authorities, jury, and artists will enter into a dialogue regarding the necessary matchmaking so that all selected concept proposals can be further developed, tailored to the most suitable location. The jury consists among others of Filip Vanhaverbeke (Leiedal), Marnix Rummens (Buda Arts Centre), Franky Devos (Arts Centre Vooruit), Joost Fonteyne (Wilde Westen), Paul Geerts (author), Els Wuyts (Triënnale Brugge curator team), Katrien Laenen (Pilot Projects Kunst in Opdracht), Patrick Ronse (Be- Part), Martine Van Kampen (Flevoland land art curator), Leo Van Broeck (Flemish Property Developer).

Step 2: Developing a project proposal

The selected artists, (landscape) architects, designers, or creators are invited to further develop their concept proposal into a project proposal between early May and late August. Intercommunale Leiedal provides a lump-sum fee of 2,000 Euros for the creation of the project file, on condition that the project proposal contains at least the elements below and is considered to have been sufficiently developed by the jury.

Minimal project proposal requirements:

• Detailed visual design of the intervention
• Action plan for the realisation (technical, development of the works, notification regarding possible permits, …)
• Clear timing towards delivery mid-May 2020
• Detailed estimate of the cost of the intervention, including honorary fee estimate. The artist retains the intellectual property rights for their work. If the project proposal includes the addition of a work of art to the landscape, the submitting party must clearly indicate the conditions under which the work of art may remain in the same location or be acquired.
• The developed project proposals must be submitted at the latest on Tuesday 16 July 2019 via jonas.vandeghinste@leiedal.be.

At the end of August, the jury with representatives from the relative local authorities and from the art world will carry out a final selection based on the submitted project proposals so that as of early September the selected artists, (landscape) architects, designers, or creators may fully commit to finalising their land art interventions by mid- May 2020 (start early June 2020 – end October 2020). Collaboration with regional businesses, associations, residents, or schools is encouraged. This may prove to be a good way to incorporate local expertise and/or materials within an original context. Intercommunale Leiedal has access to a broad, expansive network, and can facilitate such collaboration.