Mario Merz Prize

Rules and Regulations
Rules and regulations Art section
  1. THE PRIZE SCOPE AND DESCRIPTION

 

The Mario Merz Prize is promoted by the Fondazione Merz with the collaboration of a Technical Committee, the Prize is supported by a distinguished International Honors Committee.
It consists of an Art section and a Music section.
The sole scope of the competition is the production of artwork with the aim to promote art and culture by recognizing and calling attention to significant artists in the field of the visual arts and music composition.

 

 

  1. ELIGIBILITY

There are no restrictions with regard to age, nationality or artistic medium. Artists can participate with any type of work.
Artists participating in the selection are to be nominated by curators, museum directors, art critics, gallerists or members of other cultural associations. Artists cannot nominate themselves.
Each artist can receive multiple nominations. The institution or the person entering a nominee is in charge of providing the nominated artist with a full copy of these rules and regulations.

 

 

  1. OPEN CALL TIMELINE

Entries must be submitted online, by completing the form for nominations on the website www.mariomerzprize.org from July 18, 2023 and no later than midnight on February 4, 2024 (Central European Time).
Nominations submitted before or after the dates indicated above will not be considered.

 

 

  1. SUBMITTING A NOMINATION

There is no charge for submitting a nomination.
Applications must contain the personal details and profession of the person filling in the form, the artist personal data, a short biography, the critical motivation for the candidacy for the award and the materials. Other optional information and material can be submitted online.
Applications missing any of the required information or not complying with the Prize procedures will be excluded from the competition.
Full acceptance of the rules and regulations as stated herein is required for entry and participation in the Mario Merz Prize.

 

 

  1. SELECTION OF THE 5 FINALISTS

The nominations will be evaluated by a Special Committee (nominated by the Fondazione Merz and by the Promoting Committee) who will draw up a short list of 5 final candidates. Finalists will receive notification via e-mail, along with the documentation to confirm their participation, which must be returned duly completed and signed within 15 days of receipt. The 5 selected artists will be invited to exhibit a selection of their work in solo show in the city of Turin.
If the finalist is not available to collaborate with the organization, within the indicated schedule, the organizing and the promoting committees reserve the right to exclude him or her from the competition.

 

 

  1. SELECTION OF WINNER

The Winner will be designated by an International Jury, whose discretionary vote will be final and binding. Members of the Jury will be listed on the official website www.mariomerzprize.org in the Jury section.
Public voting will count as one of the final votes. Viewers will vote online, on the Prize website www.mariomerzprize.org

 

 

  1. THE PRIZE

The winning artist will receive € 5,000 for the project for a solo exhibition to will be produced by the Fondazione Merz in conformity with terms to be defined between the winner and the Fondazione itself through shared criteria of sustainability.

The solo show will be accompanied by an exhibition catalogue.
The Prize is non-transferable and is strictly personal.

 

 

  1. BAN TO EXPOSE THE PROPOSED ARTWORK

Proposed artwork shall not be publicly shown prior to the exhibition linked to the Prize unless specifically authorized by the Fondazione Merz itself. Unauthorized exhibition of the artwork will result in the cancellation of the Prize.

 

 

  1. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE

By entering the Prize all participating artists authorize as from now the Fondazione Merz, the promoters, and other involved third parties to display, record (video/audio), photograph, publish, and distribute their artwork, or parts of it, via internet and the press for promotion pertaining to the Prize-related events,  without place and time constraints, and without compensation.
Participants also grant permission to reproduce, adapt and use their artwork, or parts of it, in connection with video recordings or materials to document or advertise the event.
Participants consent to the translation of their work into other languages—when deemed necessary for the local public to understand the work.
Participants also authorize the use of their name and image for promotion of the Prize. Participants warrant that none of these activities infringes any third-party right and save the Fondazione Merz and its assigns harmless from any damage resulting from the afore-mentioned activities.

 

 

  1. RELEASE OF LIABILITY

In no event the Fondazione Merz, its assigns, sponsors, and other affiliates or third parties involved in the Prize will be held responsible or liable a) for any incorrect or late entry or transmission, nor for any inaccurate, misdirected, garbled, altered or damaged entry; b) for hardware or software failure, or technical failures of any kind, and for problems with network connections, or other computer problems and technical malfunctions; c) for any damaged or lost content due to events beyond the control of the Fondazione Merz or other fortuitous events; d) for any printing or typographical errors on the documents regarding the Prize and its related events.

 

 

  1. FINALISTS NOTIFICATION

Finalists will be individually notified via the email specified in the Registration Form. Their names will also be announced on the official website: www.mariomerzprize.org

 

 

  1. PUBLIC VOTE ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE www.mariomerzprize.org

The Public can use the Prize website solely for the purposes provided for in these rules and regulations. Voting public will have to register online submitting the data required and accepting the rules and regulations herein provided. Users shall not use the Prize website www.mariomerzprize.org to upload, post, store, send or otherwise disseminate and publish via the Site any infringing or illicit content or comment that, by way of example, may advocate discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, race, sexuality or nationality; nor any defamatory, libellous content or computer viruses, corrupted data or harmful, intrusive, disseminating files, or other malicious code.
In the event the Fondazione Merz, the organizers, or the assigns, as owners of the Internet website, were held responsible for any illicit content uploaded or disclosed or posted by a User, the same User agrees to release and hold the Fondazione Merz and any assigns harmless from and against any and all claims and expenses of any kind, including legal fees and costs, and to hold them harmless from any and all damages or harmful consequences that may affect the Fondazione itself or its assigns.

 

 

  1. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS

By entering this competition, all artists agree to be bound by and comply with the articles of these Rules and Regulations without limitations, therein including the possibility that the Prize may not be assigned.

 

 

  1. PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA AND RIGHTS OF USERS

The Data Controller, Fondazione Mario Merz, declares that your personal data will be processed in accordance with European Regulation no. 679/2016 (so-called “GDPR”) and Privacy Code 196/2003 (as amended by Legislative Decree 101/2018).

In this regard, we invite you to read the specific information for the various interested parties in the Mario Merz Prize:

Information concerning candidacy

Information concerning participant

Information for persons voting

 

15. ITALIAN VERSION AND ITALIAN LAW

These terms and conditions are governed by Italian law. In case of discrepancy between the translated versions, the original Italian version of this document will be legally biding.
For other issues not mentioned here, all Italian laws and regulations on this matter apply.

Rules and regulations Music section
  1. THE PRIZE SCOPE AND DESCRIPTION

 

The Mario Merz Prize is promoted by the Fondazione Merz with the collaboration of a Technical Committee, the Prize is supported by a distinguished International Honors Committee.
It consists of an Art section and a Contemporary Music section.
The sole scope of the competition is the production of artwork with the aim to promote art and culture by recognizing and calling attention to significant artists in the field of the visual arts and contemporary music composition.

 

 

  1. ELIGIBILITY

There are no restrictions with regard to age or nationality.
Composers participating in the selection are to be nominated by music institutions, interpreters, music critics and experts.

Composers cannot apply themselves.
Each composer can receive multiple nominations.
The institution or the person entering a nominee is in charge of providing the nominated artist with a full copy of these rules and regulations.

 

 

  1. OPEN CALL TIMELINE

Applications must be submitted online, completing the form on the Prize website: www.mariomerzprize.org from July 18, 2023 and no later than midnight on February 4, 2024 (Central European Time).
Nominations submitted before or after the dates indicated above will not be considered.

 

 

  1. SUBMITTING A NOMINATION

There is no charge for submitting a nomination.

Applications must contain the personal details and profession of the person filling in the form, the composer’s personal data, a short biography, the critical motivation for the candidacy for the award and the materials (scores, audio files, etc.) to be submitted to the jury. Other optional information and material can be submitted online.

Applications missing any of the required information or not complying with the Prize procedures will be excluded from the competition.
Full acceptance of the rules and regulations as stated herein is required for entry and participation in the Mario Merz Prize.

 

 

  1. SELECTION OF THE 3 FINALISTS

The nominations will be evaluated by a Special Committee (nominated by the Fondazione Merz and by the Promoting Committee) who will draw up a short list of 3 final candidates. Finalists will receive notification via e-mail, along with the documentation to confirm their participation, which must be returned duly completed and signed within 15 days of receipt. The 3 selected composers must submit a score (including the instrumental parts) for the following instrumentation: Violin, Viola, Violoncello, Double Bass, Clarinet (in B flat), Saxophone (Soprano / Alto / Tenor / Baritone – 1 player), Harp, Mandolin (bowlback), Accordion (chromatic button type, 64 keys, 120 free bass), Percussion (4 Octaves Marimba, Pearl-McMillen Malletstation EM1, 3 Suspended Cymbals, 1 Tam-tam, Concert/Kick Bass Drum, Hi-hat, 2 Toms, 5 Temple-blocks, Triangle – 1 player). It is possible to use all or only part of the instrumentation.

This score must be free of editorial and/or rental rights.

Musical scores that do not meet the above criteria will not be considered for selection in the competition.

Alternatively, a museum sound project may be submitted instead, the technical details of wich must be approved by the Fondazione Merz.

If the finalist is not available to collaborate with the organization, within the indicated schedule, the organizing and the promoting committees reserve the right to exclude him or her from the competition.
The scores will be performed for selecting the winner of the final Prize.

The finalist composer will only be able to attend the general rehearsal and the concert.

 

 

  1. SELECTION OF WINNER

The Winner will be designated by an International Jury, whose discretionary vote will be final and binding. Members of the Jury will be listed on the official website www.mariomerzprize.org in the Jury section.
Public voting will count as one of the final votes. Viewers will vote online, on the Prize website www.mariomerzprize.org

 

 

  1. THE PRIZE

The winner will receive the sum of €5,000 for the composition of a piece for string orchestra or for solo instrument and string orchestra, or alternatively for the design of the soundtrack for a space.

The production of the concert or the soundtrack will be paid for by the Fondazione Merz. For the soundtrack for a space the terms will be defined between the winner and the Fondazione itself through shared criteria of sustainability.

The duration of the composition must be between 10 and 15 minutes. Any solo instrument  to be chosen from the following list: Violin, Viola, Violoncello, Double Bass, Clarinet (in B flat), Saxophone (Soprano / Alto / Tenor / Baritone – 1 player), Harp, Mandolin (bowlback), Accordion (chromatic button type, 64 keys, 120 free bass), Percussion (4 Octaves Marimba, Pearl-McMillen Malletstation EM1, 3 Suspended Cymbals, 1 Tam-tam, Concert/Kick Bass Drum, Hi-hat, 2 Toms, 5 Temple-blocks, Triangle – 1 player).

The space for the eventual soundtrack will be proposed by the Fondazione Merz and defined in agreement with the composer

Electroacoustic instruments may also be used, following discussion and approval by the Fondazione Merz of the technical details sent with the application.

The Prize is non-transferable and is strictly personal.

 

 

  1. BAN TO PERFORM THE COMMISSIONED SCORES

Commissioned music scores shall not be performed publicly prior to the Prize concert, not even in part, unless authorized by the Fondazione Merz itself. Unauthorized performance of music scores or parts of them will result in the annulment of the Prize.
All commissioned works may be performed any time following the Prize Final Concert only if preceded by the statement “Winning Score at the Fifth Edition of the Mario Merz Prize”. The commissioned pieces remain the property of the Fondazione Merz which reserves the right to make further use of them.

 

 

  1. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE

By entering the Prize all participating artists authorize as from now the Fondazione Merz, the promoters, and other involved third parties to display, record (video/audio), photograph, publish, and distribute their artwork, or parts of it, via internet and the press for promotion pertaining to all Prize-related events,  without place and time constraints, and without compensation.
Participants also grant permission to reproduce, adapt and use their artwork, or parts of it, in connection with video recordings or materials to document or advertise the event.
Participants also authorize the use of their name and image for promotion of the Prize. Participants warrant that none of these activities infringes any third-party right and save the Fondazione Merz and its assigns harmless from any damage resulting from the afore-mentioned activities.

 

 

  1. RELEASE OF LIABILITY

In no event the Fondazione Merz, its assigns, sponsors, and other affiliates or third parties involved in the Prize will be held responsible or liable a) for any incorrect or late entry or transmission, nor for any inaccurate, misdirected, garbled, altered or damaged entry; b) for hardware or software failure, or technical failures of any kind, and for problems with network connections, or other computer problems and technical malfunctions; c) for any damaged or lost content due to events beyond the control of the Fondazione Merz or other fortuitous events; d) for any printing or typographical errors on the documents regarding the Prize and its related events.

 

 

  1. FINALISTS NOTIFICATION

Finalists will be individually notified via the email specified in the Registration Form. Their names will also be announced on the official website: www.mariomerzprize.org.

 

 

  1. PUBLIC VOTE ON THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE www.mariomerzprize.org

The Public can use the Prize website solely for the purposes provided for in these rules and regulations. Voting public will have to register online submitting the data required and accepting the rules and regulations herein provided. Users shall not use the Prize website www.mariomerzprize.org to upload, post, store, send or otherwise disseminate and publish via the Site any infringing or illicit content or comment that, by way of example, may advocate discrimination on the basis of gender, religion, race, sexuality or nationality; nor any defamatory, libellous content or computer viruses, corrupted data or harmful, intrusive, disseminating files, or other malicious code.
In the event the Fondazione Merz, the organizers, or the assigns were held responsible, as owners of the Internet website, for any illicit content uploaded or disclosed or posted by a User, the same User agrees to release and hold the Fondazione Merz and any assigns harmless from and against any and all claims and expenses of any kind, including legal fees and costs, and to hold them harmless from any and all damages or harmful consequences that may affectthe Fondazione itself or its assigns.

 

 

  1. COMPLIANCE WITH RULES AND REGULATIONS

By entering this competition, all composers agree to be bound by and comply with the articles of these Rules and Regulations without limitations, therein including the possibility that the Prize may not be assigned.

 

 

  1. PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA AND RIGHTS OF USERS

The Data Controller, Fondazione Mario Merz, declares that your personal data will be processed in accordance with European Regulation no. 679/2016 (so-called “GDPR”) and Privacy Code 196/2003 (as amended by Legislative Decree 101/2018).

In this regard, we invite you to read the specific information for the various interested parties in the Mario Merz Prize:

Information concerning candidacy

Information concerning participant

Information for persons voting

 

 

15. ITALIAN VERSION AND ITALIAN LAW

These terms and conditions are governed by Italian law. In case of discrepancy between the translated versions, the original Italian version of this document will be legally biding.
For other issues not mentioned here, all Italian laws and regulations on this matter apply.