XIII BIENNIAL ALEX 2007
"Our Creative Diversity: kairos"

Alexandria 25th November - 4th December 2007

The PUBLIC CALL has been closed on 30th April


CONCEPT

The XIII Edition of the Biennial of young artist from Europe and the Mediterranean will be held in Alexandria (Egypt) from 25th November to 4th December 2007.
It will be organized by the Bjcem, the Governatorate of Alexandria, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Alex Med Research Center of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Atelier d'Alexandrie, under the patronage of the Anna Lindh Foundation for the Dialogue Between Cultures.
This is the first time that this event will be held outside Europe, in the South of the Mediterranean: this is an important sign of real and concrete cooperation, where the intercultural dialogue is in the centre of everyone's commitment.

The Biennial arrives in Alexandria at its 13th edition, from 1985 on it passed from Barcelona (1985/1987), to Thessaloniki (1986), Bologna (1988), Marseille (1990), Valencia (1992), Lisbon (1994), Turin (1997), Rome (1999), Sarajevo (2001), Athens (2003), Naples (2005).

In the present international contex characterized by a crisis in cultural relations between North and South and an extended tension among the countries of the "Rive Sud" we want to spread the message that cultural differences are not a threat but represent an important resource to be exploited: cultural diversity plays a fundamental role and shall foster initiatives to open the dialogue within the Mediterranean, since comprehension is based on dialogue. Art is another form of dialogue and it has a crucial role, as culture, in the process of integration and reciprocal comprehension: it is understood by everyone without any need to share the same language.

The theme for the XIII Edition of The Biennial 2007 is: "Our Creative Diversity: kairos " (Greek word pronounced keeros, meaning fit time, opportunity, a point in time where change is possible).

"Our Creative Diversity: kairos"

"kairos" is a possibility of change in the city, and feel the vigorous urge towards its further evolution. But this is also true for the world beyond Alexandria as well. We have witnessed so much damage and dismay, there is a will building towards that "kairos" point in time where change can take place all over the Mediterranean Region and especially in the south and Middle East.

"kairos" time is also approaching for artists of all kinds. Art has its uses as well as beauty that addresses our deepest feelings. Art can be intense and provoke, raise our awareness, and soothe our feelings. Young artists especially have a fresh approach and can urge their audience to face up to new standards, see new ways. Young artists can transcend the limits that tradition and inertia have imposed and face the new possibilities. They can depict and interpret, raise issues, propose a change, add comprehension, express dismay, raise hope. So also it can be used to enhance and encourage evolution of thought at critical times, at a "kairos" time.

Artistic Fields:

• Opening up for Visual Arts
  
• Feeling (emotion and sympathy) for Applied Arts
  
• Confronting change for Cinema and video
  
• Seeing (awakening and awareness) for Shows
  
• Communication (reaching out) for Literature and Poetry
  
• Hearing (tuning in) for Music
  
• Tasting and smelling (experience) for Gastronomy

The importance of the choice of Alexandria

Alexandria has had its "kairos" in the past and is at a "kairos" now.
Alexandria has a rich history that began with its founding by Alexander the Great in 331 BC. It became the centre of civilized word at that time and the capital of multicultural thought, bringing together scientists, intellectuals and artists from all over the Mediterranean from different eras like Euclid, Mantheo, and Eratosthenes in ancient times and in the last century Cavafy, EM Forester, and Lawrence Durrell.
The 19th and 20th centuries were considered the "Golden Age" of Alexandria because culture and cosmopolitanism flourished. With minorities like Armenians, Greeks, Lebanese, Maltese and Syrians among others, Alexandria is considered the most culturally diverse of all Egyptian cities.
The cultural diversity is reflected in the many artistic and historical places that embody its momentous history, dating back to Greek, Roman, Ptolemaic, Byzantine, and Islamic times: for that reason Alexandria represents the best location for the Biennial.
The concept of holding the Biennial in a South Mediterranean city will enhance inter-Mediterranean relations between the two "Rives" thus paving the way for freedom of expression, open dialogue, and shared heritage/culture through unifying action of art.

To participate

To participate to the Biennial a Public Call for Competitions will be launched in all countries taking part in the Biennial 2007. The selections of the participants will be realized by local and national juries of art critics and experts of the different areas (where there are Associations or Municipalities members of the BJCEM).

The selection is open to all the young artists from 18 to 30 years old: for the Show Area the Age limit is 35 for directors and choreographers.

The Biennale 2007 of Alexandria is organized in seven Artistic Areas, each of them including several disciplines.
Visual Arts (Plastic Arts, Photography, Installation, Performance, Video Art, Comic Strip, Cyber Art)
Applied Arts (Architecture, Visual/ Industrial/ Web design, Fashion, Digital Creations)
Images on the Move (Cine, Video, Animated Films)
Show (Theatre, Dance, Urban Acts)
Literature (Writing, Poetry)
Music (Rock, Pop, Jazz, Folk/ Ethno, Contemporary, Digital, Dj's)
Gastronomy Area

Before, during and after the Biennial various workshops will be organized in order to give to the artists the opportunity to cooperate through art and to operate in a multicultural contest. Participating countries

More than 1,000 young artists from 48 European and Mediterranean countries will participate to the XIII Biennial: it is the first time that other 20 countries from the European Union are going to participate along with the 28 countries of last Edition held in Naples on September 2005.

48 participating countries: all European Union (27 countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, United Kingdom), "Rive sud" (11 countries: Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey), Greater Mediterranean (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, FYROM, Serbia, Montenegro) with Kosovo, Norway, Republic of San Marino, and Rom Nation.

The XIII Edition of the Biennial will represent an important moment of inclusion and cooperation involving many Euro-Mediterranean countries. It will be a window open on different cultures, languages, and lifestyles; it will give the opportunity for promoting dialogue and the youth artistic flair.