The Norwegian Data Inspectorate and Public Art Norway (KORO) invite all artists to submit their magnificent and breathtaking ideas on the issues of privacy, freedom and integrity. Up till five of the incoming ideas will be selected for realisation in order to become part of an exhibition at Oslo S (the central train station in Oslo). Room for art at Oslo S by/Kulturbyrået Mesèn is producing the exhibition.

Production funds will be awarded according to the specific requirements and positioning of the art pieces. However, there is an upper limit of NOK 50 000 per piece. In addition to the production funds, each artist will be given a fee of NOK 25 000.

A jury will evaluate the suggested projects based on artistic and thematic accuracy, suitability within the exhibition arena (physical and environmental conditions) and the economical and artistic totality of the project.

Theme and intention

The data Inspectorate was last year awarded extraordinary funds from the Ministry of Government administration and reform to initiate an art project. The intention behind the project is that artistic expressions and approaches will be able to expand and contribute to the debate around the issue of privacy.

Privacy is about every persons right to draw a line around them. Everybody should be able to and allowed to decide for themselves who should be given the rights to access their personal information. There is a fine line between safety/security and freedom or between integrity and an understandable desire for protection. These issues are among the most often discussed dilemmas of our time.

Oslo S is one of Norway’s busiest indoor arenas (with approximately 200 000 visitors every day). It is both a “passing-through”- area and a “stay for a while”- area. It is a junction where a cross section of the population meets. It is also a public space that challenges the rules for, the co-existence of and the interaction between people.

We hope to receive ideas for art projects that illustrate a number of different approaches to issues concerning the privacy debate. We wish to carry the discussion around these issues forward from a narrow, academic level to “the man on the street” through engaging artists who can create catchy, moving, illustrating and/or analysing art pieces – and maybe give us new answers or solutions?

Competition terms

The propositions have to consider the fact that the art is to be positioned either within the suggested areas for exhibition at Oslo S or in other, individually suggested positions, at, around or in connection with Oslo S. Please also see the specifications:

Available areas for exhibiting art:

1. The main entrance, Oslo S, the facade at Øvre Jernbanetorg.
2. The Airport Express terminal, the facade towards the sea.
3. Above the entry to the Metro, Northern entrance, plasma screen (HD) for video.
4. Website, www.romforkunst.no.

1. Other possible areas: We will consider propositions/ideas for art to be placed elsewhere than in the above-suggested areas. One possibility can for example be to communicate an art-project on the trains. The art will need to be adjusted accordingly to where it is to be placed in communication with the exhibition producers, Rom for art.

The propositions has to be considerate of the public space that constitute Oslo S:

The idea/proposition also need to consider health and safety and cannot in any way be obstructive. Public services must not be prevented or blocked. Please also note that the Oslo S’ owners have adopted a zero tolerance for graffiti.

More information regarding the exhibition-arenas, in addition to drawings and pictures of the areas in and around Oslo S

Continuance

After the decision of the jury has been made, up till five of the suggestions will be carried through for realisation.

The jury reserve the right to, freely, invite two further artists to contribute.

The work related to developing the winning propositions into actual artworks has to take place in close dialog with Rom for art, keep to the proposed timeframe/schedule and be completed at the beginning of October 2008. The exhibition is set to be on display for six weeks from mid October till the end of November 2008.

It is premise that the art piece have to be possible to document and that the Norwegian Data Inspectorate will be free to use/apply the documentation of the art/creations in other connections after the exhibition period has ended.

Specific requirements

We do not require complete artworks to be submitted, but rather a framing or sketch of the project that demonstrates/visualise the realism of the idea.

The suggestion must include:

1. An account for the idea and the intension behind it, including a description of preferred positioning for the art/project.
2. Sketches.
3. Economical and technical estimation for the project.

1. A progress schedule/time frame for realisation of the idea.

We will only accept contributions of a maximum of four A4-pages including all written copy and images. All other material will not be considered. The only exception will be made is for artists working with video, sound, performance etc. art who will be allowed to submit a DVD/CD with a maximum of 3 minutes long sketch.

The idea/proposal have to be submitted anonymously. It should therefore be marked with a motto or a code. A note with the name of the artist should be placed in a separate envelope marked with the same motto or code. The note should contain the full name, postal address, and phone number and e-mail address of the artist.

Deadline for submission (postal stamp): 3. April 2008

The proposals should be submitted to:
KORO, Pb 6994 St Olavs plass, N-0130 Oslo

Please note! The material will not be returned.

The winners of the competition will be announced at www.koro.no by the 30th of April 2008. Only the winners will be contacted

Questions and on-site inspection

An on-site inspection at Oslo S will be arranged on Wednesday 27th February at 1pm.

Please meet up at the main entrance, Øvre Jernbanetorg.

A report from the on-site inspection (containing all Q&A) will be published at www.koro.no. Other questions regarding the competition in itself or the exhibition area can be submitted via e-mail between 27th February and the 7th March at post@koro.no. The questions and answers will be gathered, made anonymous and published at www.koro.no on the 14th March 2008.

Please note! This will be the only way questions are answered.

The jury

• Georg Apenes, Datatilsynet

• Trude Talberg-Furulund, Datatilsynet

• Vibeke Christensen, Kulturbyrået Mesén

• Ketil Neergaard, artist appointed by KORO

• Yngvild Færøy, artistic consultant and jury leader

Originators

For more information regarding the originators for this project, please see KORO Datatilsynet or Rom for art