Submit your idea for creating a sculpture of one of the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet, and you could win one of 28 outdoor sculpture commissions for display in Saudi Arabia plus $10,000 in prize money.
Professional artists and art students from around the world.
Individual Sculptors, Artist groups and collectives, Classroom submissions.
Emerging sculptors are encouraged to apply, ideally with a mentor knowledgeable about the practicalities of sculpture fabrication for display outdoors in an arid climate.
Stage 1: Sculptors submit a 2D interpretation of selected letter, along with artist statement, and artist portfolio.
Submission Deadline Jun 30, 2020 (Extended).
Finalists announced Sep 1, 2020.
Stage 2: Finalists are selected to produce and submit a scale model or CAD 3D rendering of their proposed sculpture, including dimensions, materials, cost estimate, explanation of durability and sustainability, etc.
Selected finalists receive a prize of $1,000.
Submission period Oct 1, 2020 - Dec 31, 2020.
Stage 3: 28 winners are selected.Layan to commission fabrication of sculptures. Details to be shared once winners are selected.
Selected winners receive a prize of $10,000 plus costs for construction and transportation of the sculpture to KSA.
Winners announced Feb 15, 2021.
Fabrication dates of actual sculptures to be announced during stage 3.
Mission
The Layan Cultural Foundation will present a message of hope
and inspiration to the world; educating the world on the
foundational nature of the Arabic language, the true
meaning of the Holy Quran and its influence on world culture.
Through a sculpture competition the Layan Cultural Foundation
will inspire international dialogue about the
Arabic language and culture.
The Competition
Professional artists and art students from around the world can propose their artistic three dimensional interpretation of one of the letters of the Arabic language through sculpture and share their perspective on the culture, meaning and heritage of that letter and the broader Arabic language.
An international panel of experts will award commissions for up to 28 sculptures to be displayed along with a $10,000 USD prize for each participating artist.
1. Complete the online application
2. Upload required materials
3. Agree to the competition terms
4. Submit your application (you will receive an email confirmation for your records)
Watch your inbox to find out whether your work was selected as a semi-finalist.
*All materials must be submitted at the same time. Applications can be saved and and submitted at a later date.
Materials required before submission:
- Contact information
- CV / Resume and portfolio of previous sculpture work
- 2D drawings of proposed sculpture
- Artist Statement
Follow application guidelines and instructions.
Complete applications should be uploaded to the website by June 30, 2020.
i. Biographical details and CV of the artist's work (or each of the artists in a group submission).
ii. A portfolio of other work, including previous sculptures and a brief description of scale, material and purpose for each.
iii. An artist's statement identifying the letter being highlighted, rationale for the selection, a description of the design, and an explanation of how the sculpture and letter representation fit with the mission of the competition.
iv. Two-dimensional drawings / renderings of the proposed sculpture highlighting the chosen letter of the Arabic alphabet. Drawings must clearly show the letter from several vantage points and include notations on proposed materials, dimensions, etc.
v. Signed acceptance of terms and conditions of the competition.
vi. Email address for use in contact and all formal correspondance during the sculpture competition.
i. Finalists will produce a scale model or CAD 3D rendering of their proposed sculpture.
ii. A description of the sculpture, dimensions, materials, cost estimate, explanation of durability and sustainability, etc.
iii. A stipend of US $1,000 will be awarded to finalists to complete their Stage 2 submissions for final selection.
i. Artists must submit their application online on this website.
ii. All entries for Stage 1 must be received electronically on time.
iii. Artists selected as finalists for the Stage 2 competition will be notified in due time.
iv. Stage 2 submissions deadline date will be communicated.
Specifications
i. All entries must be original work of the entrant(s).
ii. Sculptures should showcase their assigned letter of the Arabic alphabet as a way to celebrate Middle Eastern culture.
iii. Sculptures should primarily utilize the detached or "munfasal" منفصل forms of the Arabic letters.
iv. A standardized descriptive plaque explaining the letter and artwork will need be affixed to, or placed immediately adjacent to the work. (Plaque will be created and provided by Layan Cultural Foundation after sculpture installation.)
v. Materials:
i. Entries must be executed in generally accepted materials for sculpture, such as metal, hardwood, stone, terracotta, resin or glass.
ii. Sculptures must last for at least 25 years in an arid climate with minimal to no maintenance required.
iii. Sculptures must be free standing and self-supporting.
iv. Sculptures must be independent of electrical power. Solar or wind power may be used but must be built into the sculpture and self-sustaining.
v. The use of easily breakable, hazardous, decomposing or deteriorating materials is not permitted. Materials or entries that could be considered to cause harm to viewers will not be permitted and entries will automatically be disqualified.
vi. Sculptures must be capable of being fixed permanently to the ground.
vi. Dimensions:
i. Finished sculptures must meet the following size dimensions
Sculptures must be no more than 4 meters tall
Sculptures must be no more than 3 meters square at the base (wide or deep)
Applicants
i. Eligibility:
i. Projects should be developed specifically for this competition and cannot be replications of earlier works.
ii. Entrants should be professional artists or students in art / sculpture programs at an educational institution.
iii. Artists past works and qualifications should be clearly stated in the artist’s CV.
iv. There are no gender, religion or nationality restrictions.
v. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
vi. Group submissions are permitted. For groups of more than one artist, all members must meet the individual eligibility requirements.
vii. Submissions should be in either Arabic or English.
viii. There is no fee for entry.
ii. How to enter:
i. Read the application guidelines and instructions.
ii. Completed applications should be uploaded by June 30, 2020 (11.59 pm GMT time) deadline.
iii. Stage 1 requires submission of the following:
i. Biographical details and CV of the artist’s work (or each of the artists in a group submission.)
ii. A portfolio of other work, including previous sculptures and a brief description of scale, material and purpose (story / meaning / significance) for each.
iii. An artist’s statement identifying the letter being highlighted, rationale for the selection, a description of the design and an explanation of how the sculpture and letter representation fit with the mission of the competition.
iv. Two-dimensional drawings / renderings of the proposed sculpture highlighting the chosen letter of the Arabic alphabet. Drawings must clearly show the letter from several vantage points and include notations on proposed materials, dimensions, etc.
v. Signed acceptance of terms and conditions of the competition.
vi. Email address for use in contact and all formal correspondence during the sculpture competition.
iv. Stage 2 submission for finalists selected in stage 1:
i. Finalists will produce a scale model or CAD 3D rendering of their proposed sculpture
ii. A description of the sculpture, dimensions, materials, cost estimate, explanation of durability and sustainability, etc.
iii. A stipend of US $1,000 will be awarded to finalists to complete their stage two submissions for final selection.
v. Submission of Entries and Timeline
i. Artists must submit their application online on this website.
ii. All entries for Stage 1 must be received (electronically, or postmarked if coming by mail) by June 30, 2020.
iii. Artists selected as finalist for the Stage 2 competition will be notified.
iv. Stage 2 submissions must be submitted approximately 2 months after notification.
v. Final selection for sculpture commissions will be announced.
1. Artists will have 6 months to complete their sculptures
vi. All sculptures should arrive in their final destination in Saudi Arabia for final installation (the date will be communicated).
Judging Criteria
i. Criteria for Stage 1:
i. Completeness of application package
ii. Adherence to the terms & conditions
iii. Background verification of credentials
iv. Strength of concept or idea
ii. The Judging Panel of five will select up to 56 (approx. 2 per letter) entrants in the first stage of judging as finalists to compete in stage 2.
iii. Finalists will then submit additional renderings/drawings/models from which the Judges will select the final 28 commissions – one for each letter of the Arabic alphabet.
iv. Submitted entries, prototypes, drawings or maquettes will not be returned to entrants once the selections have been made.
v. Criteria for Stage 2:
i. Adherence to the terms & conditions
ii. Strength of concept or idea
iii. Feasibility of construction
vi. Winning submissions from Stage 2 will be selected to receive commissions by the Judging Panel to create a full-size sculpture for installation (actual location will be communicated).
vii. Up to 28 different artists will be awarded commissions – one per Arabic letter.
i. Group submissions will be considered and award as a singular commission to the pre-organized group of artists.
ii. Judges may award more than one commission to the same artist.
viii. No expense budget can be awarded.
ix. Cost of shipment and installation of final works will be covered.
i. Any extra expenses incurred for any reason due to a failure on the part of the artist to meet any transportation deadline which was agreed between the Layan Cultural Foundation and the artist shall be covered by the artist.
x. No cash prize can be awarded.
xi. Winners will earn publicity around their sculpture by being included in the competition’s print and digital communications.
xii. The decision of the Layan Cultural Foundation on any and all matters relating to the Competition will be final and binding. Layan and members of the Judging Panel are not obliged or bound to enter into any communications whatsoever regarding such decisions.
Judges
i. A panel of 5 individuals will meet to determine finalists as well as winning submissions and will assign the commissions.
ii. Judges will include representatives from Academic institutions, Sculpture organizations, Sculptors, and art critics.
Copyright
i. Unless otherwise agreed with the Layan Cultural Foundation in writing, the entrant(s) for each entry consent to the following:
i. Artist maintains the rights to the images and submitted works, but gives the Layan Cultural Foundation, irrevocable, royalty-free, without any compensation, the worldwide rights of reproduction, exhibition, publication, translation, and communication to the public, in any manner, without exception and in perpetuity, for their works and for the texts participating in the selection.
ii. Layan Cultural Foundation has the right to create and reproduce images and video of the artist in the development of the work for publicity, marketing and educational purposes for the competition and the LCF.
ii. LCF has the right to reproduce images of the work (with full credit to the artists) for Layan Cultural Foundation marketing materials.
iii. The Layan Cultural Foundation, while fully respecting the rights of the author, will exercise these rights for all institutional activities for communication concerning the competition.
iv. Layan Cultural Foundation has the right to make miniature reproductions of the sculptures for marketing or sales to further its charitable aims, including artist credit lines and recognition on packaging or enclosed paperwork as appropriate.
All materials submitted for application to and consideration of the sculpture competition will not be returned to the artists but will be retained and archived by the Layan Cultural Foundation.
General Conditions
i. The artists for the 28 final commissions selected by the Judging Panel will be officially notified by email.
ii. Coordination for installation will happen through the Layan Cultural Foundation. The artist or an approved representative must be present for the installation in case of problems or necessary changes.
i. Delivery of the sculptures must be within the days and times set by the organizers.
ii. The artist agrees to provide the Layan Cultural Foundation with all information required for customs formalities and agrees to sign any relevant separate contracts, which could be required for customs clearance during transportation to the final location, according to all applicable laws.
iii. LCF will cover travel expenses (flight, hotel, local travel and meals) and travel visa processing and approval for international winners for the artist(s) or artist representative.
iv. For groups, travel will be provided for a max of (4) representatives per sculpture.
iii. Selected artists will, at the discretion of the Layan Cultural Foundation, be highlighted and publicized online and in a printed exhibition catalog.
iv. Layan Cultural Foundation will arrange media coverage and publicity for the sculpture launch event where the commissioned artists will be announced publicly.
v. Layan Cultural Foundation, while guaranteeing the greatest care and custody of applications, models and works, will not be liable for any thefts, fires or damages to the artworks that could occur during all stages of the competition. Any insurance is the responsibility of the Artists.
vi. The Layan Cultural Foundation reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any artist it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the sculpture competition, including its website. It also reserves the right to disqualify any artist who does not adhere to the Rules of Entry or Terms & Conditions.
vii. If for any reason, the sculpture competition is not capable of running as planned, the Layan Cultural Foundation reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the sculpture competition. All finalists and commissioned artists will receive notification for delays lasting more than 1 year or termination of the competition program.
viii. By participating in this contest, the artist agrees to be bound by these rules, including all eligibility requirements.
ix. All interpretations of the rules and decisions by the Layan Cultural Foundation relating to the rules and the sculpture competition are final.
x. Judges and Employees of the Layan Cultural Foundation and their immediate family members are not eligible to compete for a commission due to conflict of interest.
xi. Layan Cultural Foundation reserves the right to modify these “Terms & Conditions” if it is necessary.
What is the aim of the Greater Than Dhad Competition?
The competition will celebrate the role of the Arabic language in Middle Eastern culture by creating a set of Arabic alphabet sculptures.
What is the prize?
Up to 28 winners will be awarded a commission to fabricate and ship their sculpture to Saudi Arabia.
Who judges the competition?
Five judges will represent local and organizational interests as well as leading regional artists.
How does the competition work?
The competition will be judged in two stages. Your application and proposed design will be judged in Stage 1. Finalists will be selected to further develop their concepts and create a scale model in Stage 2 before final commissions are awarded.
How do I enter?
Applications are accepted until June 30, 2020. You may apply any time during that window. Registrations may be completed online only; there is no paper application.
Paper applications (with all of the same materials) may be mailed to the Layan Cultural Foundation at the address below and must be postmarked by the deadline.
*Applications will only be considered in the format the application is originally received in. Do not mail an application that has been submitted electronically.
Can anyone enter?
The competition is open to any professional artists or art students. Layan encourages artists from all religious, nationalities and genders to apply. All applicants must be at least 18 years of age.
Can we apply as a group?
Yes, group applications are accepted. One member of your team will need to take the lead in filling out the application, and all materials must be uploaded at the same time.
Can I submit more than one sculpture?
Artists may submit multiple proposals for additional sculptures. Each sculpture must be submitted as its own application and all required materials must be included with each application.
Can I be awarded more than one commission?
Yes, Artists can be awarded more than one commission, and those that are will receive a separate expense budget and prize money for each commission.
Does my sculpture have to be complete before I enter the competition?
No. Your initial application only requires you to select a letter and concept the sculpture. If selected to move on, semifinalists will be provided a stipend and time to further develop your sculpture and the winning artists will receive a commission to construction / fabricate the final sculpture.
What does it cost to enter?
There is no fee to apply. A $1000 USD stipend is provided semi-finalists for the further development as well as a cash prize and production budget for the creation of the final sculptures.
How are the applications being judged?
In Stage 1 the judges will be looking for the strength of the concept, a complete application package, adherence to the terms and conditions, and background verification of credentials.
Semi-finalists will be judged on the strength of their concepts and the feasibility of construction for their final proposals.
Will my application materials be returned?
All materials submitted for application to and consideration of the sculpture competition will not be returned to the artists but will be retained and archived by the Layan Cultural Foundation
How will I be contacted if I apply?
The email address you submit in your application will be used for all contact and formal correspondence during the sculpture competition. For group submissions, the primary contact person’s email address will be used.
Which Arabic letters are included?
The sculptures depict the 28 letters of the traditional Arabic alphabet, without any regional additions. Sculptures should primarily utilize the detached or "munfasal" منفصل forms of the Arabic letters.
Can I use more than one letter in my sculpture?
Other Arabic letter may be included, but the selected letter should be the primary focus. I.e. viewers should have an immediate understanding of which letter is being highlighted when looking at your work, without the need for interpretive text or additional context or explanation.
How large can the sculpture be?
Sculptures must be no more than 4 meters tall and no more than 3 meters square at the base.
What can the sculptures be made of?
Entries must be executed in generally accepted materials for sculpture, such as metal, hardwood, stone, terracotta, resin or glass. The use of easily breakable, hazardous, decomposing or deteriorating materials is not permitted.
Sculptures must last for at least 25 years in an arid climate with minimal to no maintenance required.
What structural limitations apply to the sculptures?
Sculptures must be free standing and self-supporting.
Sculptures must be independent of electrical power.
Solar or wind power may be used but must be built into the sculpture and self-sustaining.
Sculptures must be capable of being fixed permanently to the ground.
Will any plaque or explanation of the concept need to be included in the sculpture?
A standardized descriptive plaque explaining the letter and artwork will need be affixed to or placed immediately adjacent to the work. (Plaque will be created and provided by Layan Cultural Foundation after sculpture installation.)
Do artists need to be present when the sculptures are installed? Are travel expenses to install the sculpture included in the commission?
Coordination for installation will happen through the Layan Cultural Foundation. The artist or an approved representative must be present for the installation in case of problems or necessary changes.
LCF will cover travel expenses (flight, hotel, local travel and meals) and travel visa processing and approval for international winners for the artist(s) or artist representative.
For groups, travel will be provided for a max of (4) representatives per sculpture.
Who retains the rights to the concept of the sculpture?
Artist maintains the rights to the images and submitted works, but gives the Layan Cultural Foundation, irrevocable, royalty-free, without any compensation, the worldwide rights of reproduction, exhibition, publication, translation, and communication to the public, in any manner, without exception and in perpetuity, for their works and for the texts participating in the selection.
See complete copyright agreements in the terms and conditions.
If selected as a finalist, can I or the Layan Cultural Foundation reproduce the sculpture elsewhere?
Layan Cultural Foundation has the right to make miniature reproductions of the sculptures for marketing or sales to further its charitable aims, including artist credit lines and recognition on packaging or enclosed paperwork as appropriate.
Further questions?
Please review the Terms & Conditions and the Application package.
If you have questions beyond that, please email [info (at) greaterthandhad dot com]