Mediterranean Contemporary Art Prize

The “Mediterranean Contemporary Art Prize” is created and organized by Porta Coeli Foundation and aims to foster Contemporary Art as a means for social and cultural development. The Prize was conceived to ensure a primary role to contemporary art within the framework of artistic and cultural European events of interest involving the town of Matera and the Basilicata region.
The “Mediterranean” as a concept rather than a mere place is meant to inspire the creation of absolutely free and original artistic themes, identity-oriented and open to cultural contaminations at the same time. Thinking “Mediterranean” equals recognizing the undeniable value of diversity and seeing cultural contamination as the only instrument for individuals and communities’ evolution, not as a risk for each single identity. Thus, the international nature of the format, aimed at a wide range of individualities and cultural identities, wants to offer an extraordinary opportunity for encounter, dialogue and growth at a time in which the word “evolution” seems to refer to increasingly stereotyped and uniformed solutions. The carefully selected exhibition space will immerse artists and artworks into the dearest that were dear to Emperor Frederick II. Known as Stupor Mundi, in the Middle Ages he promoted the concept of human knowledge unity and universality, feasible only allowing exchange between cultural identities, each contributing with their own knowledge.
The Castel Lagopesole village will host the contemporary art group exhibition “Mediterranean Contemporary Art Prize” in its Frederick’s castle and Medieval atmospheres.

ARTISTIC CATEGORIES

• Painting
• Sculpture and installation
• Photography
• Digital art
• Drawing, graphics and calligraphy
• Performance

PRIZES

The “Mediterranean Contemporary Art Prize | European Capital of Culture 2019” to be awarded to 1ST PLACE artists in each category includes:

• 1000 €;
• personalized artistic trophy made by a master smelter;
• certificate containing the motivation for the prize awarded by the Jury;
• mini-solo exhibition in one European city during the month of December 2019.

The “Mediterranean Contemporary Art Prize | European Capital of Culture 2019” for 2ND PLACE artists in each of the six categories features:

• personalized artistic trophy made by a master smelter;
• certificate containing the motivation for the prize awarded by the Jury;
• mini-solo exhibition in one European City during the month of December 2019.

The “Mediterranean Contemporary Art Prize | European Capital of Culture 2019” for 3RD PLACE artists in each of the six categories includes:

• personalized artistic trophy made by a master smelter;
• certificate containing the motivation for the prize awarded by the Jury;

The “ARTIST IN RESIDENCE” PRIZE

Within the “Mediterranean Contemporary Art Prize 2019”, three “Artist in Residence” Prizes will be awarded to the most talented artists in the “painting”, “sculpture and installation” and “photography” categories.

The “Artist in Residence” Prize includes board and lodging, working spaces, materials, logistics.