The second edition of the International Graphic Art Biennial – Graphics Review, the biggest graphic arts event of the region, brings an exceptional exposition to Sfantu Gheorghe: 270 of art works selected by an internationally recognized jury belonging to 184 graphic artists coming from 26 countries.

The program of the opening ceremony:

Place and date: Sfântu Gheorghe, Friday, 18th May 2012

3 p.m.

The exposition of Fürjesi Csaba, the winner of the main prize of the first Biennial at the Magma Gallery

5 p.m.

The official opening of the exposition of the second International Graphic Art Biennial at the Gyárfás Jenő Gallery (Piaţa Păcii Nr. 2)

6 p.m.

The Awarding Gala at the Tamási Áron Theater

The entry to the events of the Biennial are free and the organizers wait for everyone interested to participate.

On the 27th April 2012 the international jury composed of 7 members has reunited for the second time with the aim to select the winner art works of the second edition of the International Graphic Art Biennial from the preselected art works on the 22nd March 2012. A total of 819 art works were sent by 340 graphic artists to this event. Based on the digital photos of the art works realized by the artists in the first round the jury proposed a total of 270 art works of 184 artists from 26 countries to appear at the exposition and in the catalog of the Biennial and to participate at the competition. The deadline for sending the original of the art works was the 27th April 2012. Last weekend the jury selected from the originals the best art works of the Biennial. Between the winners there are artists from Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Poland and Iran.

The official opening of the second edition of the International Graphic Art Biennial will take place in Sfântu Gheorghe on Friday, the 18th May 2012 according to the following schedule: the event starts at 3 p.m. at the Magma gallery with the exposition of Fürjesi Csaba, the winner of the main prize of the first Biennial, the opening continues at 5 p.m. with the exposition of the second Biennial at the Gyárfás Jenő Gallery, and the day ends with the Awarding Gala at the Tamási Áron Theater at 6 p.m. The entry for all events of the opening day is free. The organizers invite all art lovers and artists from Romania and abroad to participate at this exceptional event.

The main prize of the Biennial is offered by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage of Romania in a value of 2000 Euros. Beside the main prize, each of the counties Harghita, Covasna and Mures offered a special prize of 1000 Euros. Main patron of the Biennial is Kelemen Hunor.

3rd May 2012

I. Traditional Graphics category

II. Experimental Graphics Category

The registration for the second edition of the International Graphic Art Biennial – Graphics Review has finished on the 20th of March 2012. Until now, the organizers registered over 650 art works, and the processing still continues. The second edition of the International Graphic Art Biennial has two main sections: traditional graphics and experimental graphics. Based on the registered art works it looks that both categories are quite popular: in the traditional graphics section over 150 artists have applied and in the experimental graphics category over 120 artists.

Graphic artists could submit their application for the pre-evaluation phase by sending max. 3 art works in form of digital photos (*.tiff or *.jpg file extension and 300 dpi resolution). The jury meets in the weekend of the 24-25 March 2012 to select the art works for the second phase. The originals of the selected art works must be sent until the 27^th of April 2012 to the address of the Harghita County Cultural and Creation Center Lazarea.

The Biennial was initiated in 2010 by the organizers, Harghita County Council, Covasna County Council, Council of Harghita County Cultural and Creation Center Lazarea and Covasna County’s Cultural Center in order to promote and support the contemporary graphics and regional graphics trends, but also to offer the artists the opportunity to appear before the public. The fact that the second edition also enjoys great popularity underlines even more the need for such a cultural event in the region.

The main prize of the Biennial is in a value of 2000 Euros. Beside the main prize, each of the counties Harghita, Covasna and Mures offered a special prize of 1000 Euros. Main patron of the Biennial is Kelemen Hunor, Romania’s minister of culture and national heritage.

More information about the Biennial can be found on the event’s webpage: www.grafikaiszemle.ro/en.

The first edition of the Biennial was initiated in 2010 by the organizers, Harghita County Council, Covasna County Council, Council of Harghita County Cultural and Creation Center Lazarea and Covasna County’s Cultural Center in order to promote and support the contemporary graphics and regional graphics trends, but also to offer the artists the opportunity to appear before the public. The fact that for the first edition a total of 693 works were sent by 283 artists from 11 countries showed the need for such a cultural event in the region.

In 2012, following the tradition, the two county councils together with the cultural centers of Harghita and Covasna counties organize again the Graphic Art Biennial. The second edition returns with a series of innovations, the most important being that applications must be submitted online by sending the digital reproductions of the art works. The second edition of the International Graphic Art Biennial has two main sections: traditional graphics and experimental graphics. In the traditional graphics art category are accepted works created with multiplying procedure that are comprised in the definition of traditional graphics in high-, low- and plain press (wood- and lino cut, aquaforte, aquatint, mezzotint, litography, silk screen, etc.). In the category of experimental graphics all non-traditional multiplying graphics works created with the printing method that are covered by the definition of experimental graphics (unique print, C-print, offset, electrographics, etc.) are accepted. It is not allowed to apply with drawings, pastel drawings, waterpaintings. Works sent to the Biennial must have been created in the last 5 years.  All Romanian or any other professional artists and art students from abroad who meet the requirements established in the Call for Application can participate.

It is possible to submit the application for the pre-evaluation phase by completing and sending the entry form and max. 3 art works in form of digital photos (*.tiff or *.jpg file extension and 300 dpi resolution) to the email address grafikaiszemle@yahoo.com or grafikiaszemle@grafikaiszemle.ro until the 20^th of March 2012, 12:00 a.m. The entry form and other important information about the Biennial can be found on the event’s website: www.grafikaiszemle.ro/en.

The main prize of the Biennial is in a value of 2000 Euros. Beside the main prize, each of the counties Harghita, Covasna and Mures offered a special prize of 1000 Euros. Main patron of the Biennial is Kelemen Hunor, Romania’s minister of culture and national heritage.

International Graphics Review
II. International Graphics Biennial

The Municipal Councils of the Szekely Region, the Lazarea Cultural and Creation Center pertaining to the Harghita County Council and the Cultural Center of Covasna County together organize the II. International Graphics Biennial in the time interval between May 18 – June 30, 2012.

Main patron of the Biennial: Kelemen Hunor, Romania’s minister of culture and patrimony.

The organizers of the Biennial have distinguished two categories:

I. Traditional Graphics category
II. Experimental Graphics Category

Biennial: Terms of participation and regulations:

I. Traditional Graphics category

1. Participants:
All Romanian, Hungarian or any other professional artist and art student from abroad who meets the requirements set forth in the Call for Application. All applicants are required to attach their Curriculum Vitae to the application form.

2. Data regarding the graphic works of art submitted:
All traditional graphic works created with multiplying procedure are accepted in this category, that are comprised in the definition of traditional graphics in high-, low- and plain press (wood- and lino cut, aquaforte, aquatint, mezzotint, litography, silk screen, etc. – Drawings, pastel drawings, waterpaintings shall not be accepted). Applicants shall specify the details concerning the works of art on the back of each submitted item in conformity with the attached table. These details shall be annexed to the Application Form as well.

3. Each artist may participate with maximum 3 works that may also constitute a series. Each submitted work is considered as 1 work of art.

4. The maximum size of the works to be sent in within the category of Traditional Graphics is 100 x 70 cm.

5. Deadline and place of graphic artwork submittal:
5/a: Pre-evaluation phase:
As a first step in the pre-evaluation phase of the International Graphics Review II. Székely Region Graphics Biennial all applicants are requested to send in digital format the perfect reproductions of the works of art to be submitted, in accordance with the following paramaters:
Digital photos with *.tiff or *.jpg file extension and resolution of 300 dpi to any of the following e-mail addresses: grafikaiszemle@grafikaiszemle.ro or grafikaiszemle@yahoo.com.
Applicants are also requested to attach the Application Form and Related Details pertaining to each work of art to the digital reproductions.
Deadline for sending in the digital reproductions: March 20, 2012 , 12.00 hours.
Important!!: Don’t send in original works for the pre-evaluatory phase! (otherwise we can not provide for the home transportation of the original work of art).
All applicants shall be notified via e-mail about the results of the pre-evaluation.

5/b: Evaluation by the Jury:
After the pre-evaluatory phase, on the basis of the decision of the jury the selected participants are requested to send in the original works.
Deadline for sending in the original works of art: April 27, 2012 (reception date) via mail or delivered personally to the following address:
Centrul Cultural şi de Arte – Lăzarea,
537135 – Lăzarea,
Aleea Bastionului 67.,
jud. Harghita, România.
Please specify the following: „Graphics Biennial 2012” on each posted work.
All works received upon expiry of the established term shall be automatically rejected.

6. Subjects/subject-matter of the works of art can be freely chosen. Exclusive condition is for the participating works to have been created in the last 5 years.

7. The works have to be done under graphic press and numbered and signed according to the international graphics standards.

II. Experimental Graphics Category

1. Participants:
All Romanian, Hungarian or any other professional artist and art student from abroad who meets the requirements set forth in the Call for Application. All applicants are required to attach their Curriculum Vitae to the application form.

2. Data concerning the graphic works of art submitted:
All non-traditional multiplying graphics works created with the printing method shall be accepted in this category that are covered by the definition of experimental graphics (unique print, C-print, offset, electrographics, etc. – Drawings, pastel drawings, waterpaintings shall not be accepted). Applicants shall specify the details concerning the works of art on the back of each submitted item in conformity with the attached table. These details shall be annexed to the Application Form as well.

3. Each artist may participate with maximum 3 works that may also constitute a series. Each submitted work is considered as 1 work of art.

4. The maximum size of the works to be sent in within the category of Experimental Graphics is 200 x 100 cm.

5. Deadline and place of graphic artwork submittal:
5/a: Pre-evaluation phase:
As a first step in the the pre-evaluation phase of the International Graphics Review II. Székely Region Graphics Biennial all applicants are requested to send in digital format the perfect reproductions of the works of art to be submitted, in accordance with the following paramaters:
Digital photos with *.tiff or *.jpg file extension and resolution of 300 dpi to any of the following e-mail addresses: grafikaiszemle@grafikaiszemle.ro or grafikaiszemle@yahoo.com.
Applicants are also requested to attach the Application Form and Related Details pertaining to each work of art to the digital reproductions.
Deadline for sending in the digital reproductions: March 20, 2012 , 12.00 hours.

5/b: Evaluation by the Jury:
After the pre-evaluatory phase, on the basis of the decision of the jury the selected participants are requested to send in the original works.
Deadline for sending in the original works of art: April 27, 2012 (reception date) via mail or delivered personally to the following address:
Centrul Cultural şi de Arte – Lăzarea,
537135 – Lăzarea,
Aleea Bastionului 67.,
jud. Harghita, România.
Please specify the following: „Graphics Biennial 2012” on each posted work.
All works received upon expiry of the established term shall be automatically rejected.

6. Subjects/subject-matter of the works of art can be freely chosen. Exclusive condition is for the participating works to have been created in the last 5 years.

7. All works of art sent in must be signed.

The jury and the evaluation:
The jury is composed of internationally acknowledged art historians and graphic artists.
The professional evaluation at the International Graphics Review II. Székely Region Biennial is carried out in two phases:

1. Pre-evaluation:
As a first step in the the pre-evaluation phase of the International Graphics Review II. Székely Region Graphics Biennial all applicants are requested to send in digital format the perfect reproductions of the works of art to be submitted, in accordance with the following paramaters:
Digital photos with *.tiff or *.jpg file extension and resolution of 300 dpi to any of the following e-mail addresses: grafikaiszemle@grafikaiszemle.ro or grafikaiszemle@yahoo.com. Applicants are also requested to attach the Application Form and Related Details pertaining to each work of art to the digital reproductions.

2. Evaluation:
Prizes are awarded by the Jury to the works of art selected from among the works that have passed the preliminary selection phase. The works of graphic art selected by the jury shall be exhibited in the course of the Biennial – in accordance with the available exhibition surface – in the Art Gallery of the Székely National Museum in Sfantu-Gheorghe and later this year in various cities in the Székely Region.
• The Official Opening Ceremony of the Biennial shall take place on May 18, 2012 (Friday). Participating artists shall be informed in due course via mail, telephone or e-mail with reference to the Jury’s decision as well as the details pertaining to the Opening Ceremony.
• The award-winning works shall remain in the property of the organizing institutions.
• The exhibited works of art shall be returned per mail after the last exhibition organized within the framework of the Biennial (maximum 1 year).
• The exposed works shall be included in the Biennial Catalogue.
• Application Forms are subject to free multiplication.

Participation fee:
The participation fee for the International Graphics Review II. Székely Region Graphics Biennial amounts to 10 euros per work, or 44 lei to be transferred to either of the following bank accounts:

EURO: IBAN COD: RO52 BRDE210SV00910292100 Bank BRD GHEORGHIENI str. Libertatii nr 6 Swift Cod: BRDE ROBU
ROL : Iban Code: RO61BRDE210SV01421302100 Bank BRD GHEORGHIENI

Please mail the bank transfer (participation fee transfer) confirmation together with the works of art! This applies only for artists selected by the Jury after the pre-evaluation phase.

Miscellaneous:
• Associations, syndicates are not eligible for participation; only individual artists who fulfill the above specified professional requirements may participate.
The original graphic works are to be sent in without frame and passpartout, via mail or delivered personally, either in a portfolio or in a cardboard case. Unfortunately, we can not remedy eventual damages incurred during transportation.
• Artists who passed the preliminary selection phase and have not transferred the participation fee to one of the above specified bank accounts until the set term of April 27, 2012 shall be excluded.

Prizes:
1. Grand Prize of the Biennial: 2000 Euros
2. Nagy Imre Prize 1000 Euros (HR)
3. Plugor Sándor Prize 1000 Euros (CV)
4. Nagy Pál Prize 1000 Euros (MS)

The Awarding Gala shall be organized in the Tamási Áron Theatre in Sfantu-Gheorghe, on Saturday, the 18th of May, 2012