TOP > SUMMARY > THE 8 ^TH INTERNATIONAL CERAMICS COMPETITION MINO, JAPAN > Applications for the 8 ^th International Ceramics Competition of Mino, Japan

Applications for the 8 ^th International Ceramics Competition of Mino, Japan　>>Application formPDF

SUMMARY OF COMPETITION

(1) Theme

There is no specified theme. Entries should not conform to traditional concepts, and the works should show imagination and inspiration; work that will shape the future of ceramics.

(2) Entry Categories

1. Ceramics Design (A)
   Design entries for factory produced pieces with practical functionality. (Items mass produced mainly on the machinery of a factory assembly line).
2. Ceramics Design (B)
   Design entries for studio produced pieces with practical functionality. (Items from individuals, mainly produced by hand in small quantities).
3. Ceramic Arts
   Entries for ceramic art works that incorporate unique creativity and techniques.

(3) Conditions of Entry.

All entries must have been created within the last 3 years, and must not have been exhibited in other competitions.

# Entries are limited to those whose shape, size, and weight do not hinder the delivery or indoor exhibition of the works.
# If an entry is determined to have infringed upon design rights, even after the judges' decision has been announced, that entry may be barred from selection for the final evaluation, and from winning any prizes.

(4) Required Qualifications for Entrants

No qualifications are required. Both individuals and groups may enter.

(5) Number of Entries

Regardless of the category, each entrant may submit up to 6 entries each.

(6) Official Languages

The official languages of this competition are Japanese and English.

(7) Judging

The judging of this competition takes place in 3 stages. The first stage is judged using photographs and images of the works, while the second and third stages are judged viewing the actual works. During the entire judging process, no information regarding entrants (name, address, short CV etc) are released to the judging panel.

# Entrants whose work is successful in the first round of judging must submit their entry for judging in round 2, however not all entries received will be exhibited during the International Ceramics Competition of Mino. (Approximately 200 entries that are successful in round 2 of judging will be exhibited).

(8) Awards

<Judges Awards>

# The Grand Prix winner will be invited to attend the awards ceremony at the expense of the competition sponsors.
# The winning Grand Prix and Gold Award entries will become the property of the competition sponsors, and will be donated to the Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu Prefecture.
# The prize money is taxable.
# All prize winners and those selected for honorable mentions will be presented with a photographic catalog of competition entries. (In the case of group entries, one catalog will be presented to the group representative).

<People’s Choice Awards>

# The People's Choice Award is determined by the votes of the visiting public.

(9) Entry Period

Entries will be accepted from November 1, 2007 until February 4, 2008.

# Entries received after 5pm on February 4 (Japan time) will not be accepted, so please be sure to factor in time zone differences and delivery times when submitting entries.

(10) Entry Procedures

(10)–1. Registration Fees

No registration fee is required at the time of entry.

(10)–2. Entry Requirements

Please be aware that requirements differ for each stage of judging.

# If desired, in addition to the above mentioned requirements, a “Work Concept” explanation may also be included with entries.  (Entries consisting only of a “Work Concept” explanation will not be accepted).
# Details contained in the following (10)–3.

(10)–3. Application Procedures

To apply for the first stage of judging, please use any of the following methods – (1) Apply through the Internet, (2) Mail an application form and CD-R, (3) Mail an application form and printed photographs.

1. Applying through the Internet.
   Applications can be made through the International Ceramics Festival Mino homepage.
   
   • If applying through the Internet please be sure to use the application form available on the homepage.
   • Images of the entries must be sent in JPEG format.  Please include 2 images, one from the front, and one from another angle.  (This also applies to plaster and other models (maquettes).
   #The longest side of the image must be 800 pixels wide or long.  We are unable to accept images that do not conform to this rule.  Please note, no notification will be sent to entrants if the image size is not correct.
   • Please send design drawings in PDF format, sized no bigger than A3 and saved at the highest possible quality.
   • Application forms must be completed in either Japanese or English.
   • In the case of group entries, please select one representative, and write that person's name in the “Applicant’s Name” field on the entry form.  (The form contains another field for the names and addresses of participants of group entries).
   • Applications will be accepted until 5pm, February 4, 2008 (Japan time).  Entries received after this time will not be accepted.  Please allow plenty of extra time for your entry to be delivered, and ensure you factor in time zone differences and transportation time lags.
   #We expect to receive a large number of entries just before the end of the application period.  To ensure your entry arrives successfully, we recommend they be sent as early as possible, to avoid problems that could occur with our computer servers in the case of high volumes.
   
   
2. Mailing an Application Form and CD-R (containing such things as - images of the entry/ images of plaster models/ images of a model (maquette) / design drawings).
   An application form is attached to this information sheet, or can be downloaded from the International Ceramics Festival Mino Internet homepage.  Please send a completed application form, ensuring all required fields are completed, together with a CD-R, containing 2 images of the entry.  One of the images should be taken from the front, and one from another angle.  (This also applies to images of plaster and other models (maquettes))  Please ensure each image includes the entry's name.  Please send a second back up copy of the CD-R with your application, in case one becomes damaged in some way during transportation.
   
   • All images of entries must be sent in JPEG format.
   #The longest side of the image must be 800 pixels wide or long.
   
   • Please send design drawings in PDF format.
   • When burning images and PDF files onto a CD-R, the files must be loaded so they can be opened by Windows software.  Please ensure the correct file name extensions (“sample.jpg” / “sample.pdf”) are used when saving onto the CD-R.
   • If desired, entrants may include a written explanation of the work's concept.  This should be less than 200 words and should be loaded onto the same CD-R as the other images etc, in text format.  (This is not a mandatory requirement for entry).
   • The entrant's name and the name of the entry must both be written on the surface of the CD-R in either English or Japanese.
   • The application form must be completed in either Japanese or English.
   • In the case of group entries, please select one representative, and write that person's name in the “Applicant’s Name” field on the entry form.  (The form contains another field for the names and addresses of participants of group entries).
3. Mailing an Application Form and Entry Photographs.  (Printed Photographs)
   An application form is attached to this information sheet, or can be downloaded from the International Ceramics Festival Mino Internet homepage.  Please send a completed application form to the Executive Office, ensuring all required fields are filled out, together with 2 photographs of the entry. Please be sure to fill out the title of work in the back of each photograph. The photographs should be 89mm x 127mm in size, one being the front view of the entry, and the other of another angle.  (This also applies to images of plaster and other models (maquettes)).
   Please understand that design drawings cannot be accepted when applying in this manner.

(11) Schedule

(12) Transportation of Entries

Entries that make it successfully through the first stage of judging will be notified in writing.  At the same time those successful entrants will also receive documentation containing such things as: written instructions regarding exhibit display methods, labels to be attached to the entered work, packaging labels, credit labels (overseas entrants only), invoice forms (overseas entrants only) and a list of important points regarding the transportation of entries.

(12)–1. Transportation Expenses

• A. Domestic Entrants:
  Entries may be either delivered in person, or by courier service.
  Entrants are responsible for all transportation costs incurred when delivering the entries to and from the competition.
• B. Overseas Entrants:
  
  • If utilizing an authorized local courier service.
    Delivery of Entries: Entrants are responsible for the cost of transporting the entry to an authorized local courier service, the insurance costs, and various export expenses (such as customs clearance fees, handling charges, and packaging fees).  The sponsor is responsible for the cost of airfreighting the entry to Japan, as well as any Japanese import clearance fees.
    Return of Entries: Entrants are responsible for all costs incurred in the return transportation of an entry.
  • If shipping entries directly to Japan.
    Entrants are responsible for all delivery costs incurred, both to and from Japan.

(12)–2. Various Precautions

Please ensure the entries will arrive by the specified date.  (Entrants who make it successfully through the first stage of judging will be advised later of the dates concerned).
Please ensure adequate insurance is purchased, as entrants are responsible for any damage to the entries incurred during transportation.  Once the receipt of an entry has been acknowledged, the sponsor will take all possible precautions against damage, however will not be held responsible for any accidents or damage caused by natural disasters or other such uncontrollable incidents.  If, by chance, an accepted entry does sustain some damage, the entrant will be advised of the degree of damage.

(13) Notification of Judges' Results

Only those entrants who are chosen to go to the next stage of judging will be informed by e-mail. All entrants will later be advised of the judging result in writing.
Individual inquiries by such methods as telephone will not be accepted.

(14) Publication of Winning Entries

All entries that receive awards, or honorable mentions will be displayed in an exhibition at the Ceramic Park MINO, and will be included in a photographic catalog of the event.  Prize winning entries will also be featured on the sponsor's Internet Homepage.

(15) Return of Entries

• Regarding un-selected entries:
  Once the final stage of judging has been completed, entrants who want their works returned can either pick them up personally, or have their entries returned by a courier service.
  Those who choose to pick their work up personally will be advised of the pick up dates when the results from the first stage of judging are sent.  Entries returned by courier service are done so on a cash on delivery basis (includes all costs for such things as packaging, insurance, shipping and storage charges) and will be returned within 6 months.
• Regarding prize and honorable mention winners:
  Once the exhibition of the works has finished, entrants who want their works returned can either pick them up personally, or have their entries returned by a courier service.
  Those who choose to pick their work up personally will be advised of the pick up dates when the results from the first stage of judging are sent.  Entries returned by courier service are done so on a cash on delivery basis (includes all costs for such things as packaging, insurance, shipping and storage charges) and will be returned within 6 months.
  Grand Prix and Gold Award prize winners' entries however, are not returned.

# Generally, any work that the entrant does not wish to have returned will be donated to a public institution.  In some cases, however, works may be discarded.  We cannot accept requests to donate works to individuals. 
# If you would like your entry returned, please be sure to tick the “Please Return” field on the application form.  Please be aware that the entrant is responsible for all costs incurred in returning the entry.  If the field is left blank, the entry will not be returned.

Example of Shipping Charges

Summary of charges for an article weighing 20kg, with a volume of 120,000cm³.

# Those entrants, who want their works returned, will be sent a quotation for cash on delivery transportation costs from Japan.  Please verify the costs, then sign the enclosed request form, and return the form to Nippon Express Co., Ltd.  Those entrants living in countries that do not utilize the cash on delivery system, who want their entries returned, will be sent an invoice for transport costs.  Once the entrant's payment has been made via bank transfer and confirmed, the entry will be sent from Japan.
# Airfreight charges quoted here are authorized as at January 1, 2007.  (Please note – these return charges are approximately 3 times higher than the cost of transporting goods into Japan).  Depending on circumstances, there may be some increase in these charges going forward.
# The maximum insurable amount of each entry is 300,000 yen.  Any items exceeding this amount cannot be delivered.

(16) Rights and Obligations

The entrant retains all rights, such as copyright and industrial property rights, over their entry.  As such, it is the responsibility of the entrant to protect these rights.  Please ensure that all necessary steps are taken to register designs etc, of entries to be exhibited.  The rights regarding exhibition and publication of prize and honorable mention winning entries, both in competition materials, and in other publications issued or authorized by the sponsor, are jointly retained by both the entrant and the sponsor.  The entrants automatically agree to these conditions by taking part in the competition.

(17) Application Procedures

(17)–1. Registration through the Internet.

Please use the application form that is available on the website: www.icfmino.com

#Applications will be accepted until 5pm, February 4, 2008 (Japan time).

(17)–2. Registration using written documents and or CD-R (Postal Applications)

Please send applications to the following address-
International Ceramics Festival Mino, Executive Committee Office
4-2-5 Higashi-machi, Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, 507-0801, Japan.

(18) Inquiries

(18)–1. Questions regarding application procedures.

Inquires should be addressed to the Executive Committee Office by letter, E-mail or FAX before January 31, 2008.  Inquiries by telephone will not be accepted.

(18)–2. Please direct inquiries to –

International Ceramics Festival Mino, Executive Committee Office
4-2-5 Higashi-machi, Tajimi City, Gifu Prefecture, 507-0801, Japan.
FAX: +81-572-25-4138
E-mail: info@icfmino.com

LIST OF JUDGES

The panel for each section will include three Japanese and four non-Japanese judes.

Ceramics Design

• Toshiyuki Kita [Industrial Designer] Japan
• Fumi Kimura [Producer(comprehensive food and tableware environment)] Japan
• Ryoji Koie [Ceramist] Japan
• Alan Chan [Graphic Designer ] China
• Hans Theo Baumann [Ceramic Designer] Germany
• Piet Stockmans [Ceramic Designer] Belgium
• Park Suku [Professor of Ceramic Design at the Graduate School of Arts & Design, Sang Myung University] Korea

Ceramic Arts

• Keiji Ito [Ceramist] Japan
• Seiju Toda [Art Director] Japan
• Seiichi Watanabe [Chief Curator of Museum of Modern Ceramic Art, Gifu] Japan
• Robert Bell [Curator, Decorative Art and Design of National Gallelry of Australia] Australia
• Daniel Pontoreau [Ceramist] France
• Aldo Rontini [Ceramist] Italy
• Christine Shimizu [Chief Curator of Sevres Museum] France