The traumatizing terror attacks of July 22, 2011 in Norway - including the bombing in Oslo and the massacre on Utøya Island - resulted in 158 persons injured and 77 dead. Those behind the re-design of Utøya Island decided (somewhat controversially) that the island should, in order to "reduce the impact of the massacre," remain a vibrant summer camp rather than become a memorial.
However, in order to have a visible commemoration of the attacks, the Norwegian Government has now established two national public art memorial sites, and is hosting an open call to artists, architects and interdisciplinary collaborative teams around the world to submit their proposals.
Get more details about the competition, after the break...
Competition Timeline
Open Call Ends: September 1, 2013
8 Candidates Selected: September 20, 2013
Winner Announced: February 15, 2014
Project information
Site Descriptions: (1) A permanent memorial site in Hole Council, a contemplative place on the verdant headland facing Utøya Island. (2) A permanent memorial site in the Government Quarter in Oslo. (3) A temporary memorial site in the Government Quarter in Oslo, between the Deichmanske Library and the Y-block, bordering on Grubbegata (the transition to the permanent site is expected to occur over the span of ten years; the connection and transition between the two sites is an important part of the competition proposal).
Budgets: (1) Five million NOK for the memorial site in Hole Council. (2) Ten million Norwegian kroner (NOK) for the permanent memorial site in the Government Quarter in Oslo. (3) Two million NOK for the temporary project.
Special Requirements: (1) The names of all those killed in the July 22 bombing will appear as part of the permanent memorial site in the Government Quarter in Oslo. (2) The names of all those killed in the massacre at Utøya will appear as part of the memorial site in Hole Council. (3) All the memorial sites must be carried out by the same person/collective and they must relate to each other. (4) The completion of the permanent memorial site in the Government Quarter is dependent on and must take into account the redevelopment of the area (it is likely to become an urban park area, a site for public memorials and servies). (5) The memorial at Hole Council should form part of the natural landscape, taking advantage of the uneven terrain and the view to Utøya. (6) There should be a conceptual link between the two memorial sites; however, this does not preclude a site- or context specific approach as the sites in Oslo and in Hole differ in nature and will most likely be used by different audience groups.
Jury:The Art Selection Committee – a group of Norwegian representatives including those from KORO (Public Art Norway) and the Labour Party’s Youth Association.
Date of Completion:The permanent memorial site in Hole Council and the temporary memorial site in the Government Quarter in Oslo must be completed by July 22 2015.
Find more information and apply at http://minnesteder.no/en/
