Scroll down for information in English, and a list of frequently asked questions!

Kjære kunstnere,

Norsk Billedhoggerforening inviterer dere til å sende inn søknader til utstillingsprogrammet for 2026-2027. I år har vi gleden av å lansere et nytt søknadsskjema! Det er basert på et par korte spørsmål, som vi oppfordrer dere til å svare på ut fra kjernen av deres kunstneriske praksis.

DEADLINE: 8. DESEMBER 2024

OM UTLYSNINGEN

Utstillingsprogrammet i 2026-2027 fokuserer på den mangfoldige aktiviteten innenfor den tredimensjonale kunsten sett fra et tverrfaglig perspektiv. Vi er interessert i et bredt spekter, fra de mest tradisjonelle til de mest moderne tilnærmingene til mediet. Publiseringsinitiativer, performance, arrangementer og utradisjonelle formater – alt relatert til det tredimensjonale vil bli vurdert. Vis oss hva du har!

Utlysningen gjelder to utstillingsarenaer: huset i Hekkveien 5 (Villa Furulund) og prosjektrommet på Carl Berner T-banestasjon:

  • Prosjektrommet på Carl Berner krever mer stedsspesifikke prosjekter. (Klikk her for plantegninger)

  • Til huset (Villa Furulund) inviterer vi deg til å fortelle hvor du er i din kunstneriske praksis for øyeblikket, og til å forestille deg hvor du kan være når du mottar en invitasjon til å skape eller videreutvikle et verk. Men, hvis du har en klar (ikke fastlåst) stedsspesifikk visjon, ønsker vi også dette velkommen. Merk at utlysningen ikke er knyttet til et bestemt rom i huset eller en fast utstillingsplan. (NB: Fra og med i år har skulpturparken sin egen open call, som er separat fra denne.)

Tidsrammen på to år (2026-27) gir oss muligheten til å utvikle et utstillingsprogram som reflekterer plastisiteten i skulpturfeltet, med en progressiv forståelse av dets konseptuelle grenser. Dette betyr at utstillingsplanen vil gi rom for individuelle- og gruppebaserte deltakelser, samt ulike formater som vil settes sammen over tid av kuratoren, basert på innholdet i søknadene. Juryen vil vurdere om prosjektet egner seg som en soloutstilling, gruppeutstilling eller et annet utstillingsformat.

ÅPENT HUS

Har du spørsmål eller henvendelser? Eller ønsker du bare en omvisning i lokalene? Vi inviterer til åpent hus 22. og 29. november fra kl. 13-16, hvor kuratoren vil være til stede for å engasjere seg med tankene dine og vise deg rundt.


OM JURYEN OG PROSESSEN

Juryen består av NBFs galleriråd: Geir Tore Holm (ekstern), Anne-Gro Erikstad (ekstern), Gunnhild Torgersen (nestleder NBF), Hilde Tørdal (styremedlem NBF), Erik Steen (daglig leder NBF) og Tatiana Lozano (kurator NBF).

Juryeringsprosessen består av tre trinn. Først gjør juryen et utvalg. Deretter inviteres en shortlist med kandidater til en kort samtale med kuratoren før det endelige utvalget. Alle kunstnere vil få beskjed om statusen på sin søknad via e-post i løpet av februar 2025.

Utstillingsprogrammet i Norsk Billedhoggerforening er basert på Open Call i kombinasjon med et kuratert program. For de som ikke allerede er medlemmer, vil søknaden behandles som en kombinert søknad for både utstilling og medlemskap.

Siden 2018 har NBFs galleri utmerket seg som en av landets viktigste arenaer for tredimensjonal kunst, med utstillinger hvor både unge, etablerte, internasjonale og historiske posisjoner er representert. Se vårt utstillingsarkiv: http://www.norskbilledhoggerforening.no/utstillinger

Vi jobber aktivt for å inkludere historisk underrepresenterte individer basert på etnisitet, seksuell orientering, kjønn, kjønnsidentitet, tro og sosioøkonomisk status. Kom som du er!


SØKNADSSKJEMA:

Spørsmål:

  • Hva arbeider du med for øyeblikket?

  • Beskriv på en reflekterende måte hvordan praksisen din tilnærmer seg skulptur.

  • Ønsker du å skape noe helt nytt eller jobbe med videreutvikling av eksisterende verk? I begge tilfeller, utdyp kort.

Visuelt materiale:

PDF 1: Inkluder opptil 5 bilder av arbeidsplassen/atelieret ditt, og opptil 5 bilder av favorittverkene- eller prosjektene dine (av egne verk) i en samlet PDF.
PDF 2: Portfolio og CV i en samlet PDF

Restriksjoner:
Hvis du har en institusjonell soloutstilling i Oslo i perioden 2026-2027, kan du ikke søke.


ENGLISH

Dear Artists,

The Norwegian Sculptors Society invite you to submit applications for the exhibition program of 2026-2027. This year we are excited to launch a new application form! It is based on a set of brief questions, that we encourage you to answer from the core of your artistic practice.
 

DEADLINE: Sunday the 8th of December 2024

ABOUT THE OPEN CALL

The underlying vision for the artistic program in 2026-2027 is focused on the diverse activity in the field of sculpture and three-dimensional art practices within a multidisciplinary framework. Considering the history of sculpture, we are interested in a broad range, from the most traditional to the most contemporary ways of approaching the medium. Publishing initiatives, performances, events and non-traditional formats – everything sculpture-related will be considered. Show us what you’ve got!

The open call consists of two exhibition venues: the house in Hekkveien 5 (Villa Furulund) and the project room in Carl Berner’s metro station:

  1. The project room at Carl Berner calls for more site-specific proposals, for which you will find a box to tick-off and describe the project.

  2. For the house, we rather invite you to let us know what moment in time your artistic practice is at, and to imagine where it could be at the time you would receive an invitation to either create or evolve a body of work. However, if you have a clear (not fixed) site-specific vision, we welcome that. Please note that this open call is not set to a particular room in the house, nor to a fixed exhibition plan. (Note: From this year on the sculpture park has its own open call, that is separate from this one)

The span of two years (2026-27) will allow us to develop a program that responds to the plasticity and elasticity sculpture has to offer, with a progressive understanding of its conceptual boundaries. This means that the exhibition plan will make room for individual and group participations as well as different formats that will be composed in time by the curator, according to the content of the applications. The jury will assess whether the project is suitable for a solo, group or other exhibition format.


OPEN DAY: Got questions or inquiries? Or would you simply like a tour of the space? We invite you to an open house on the 22nd and 29th of November from 1-4pm, where the curator will be present to engage with your thoughts and show you around.


ABOUT THE JURY AND PROCESS

The jury is composed by the gallery advisory board: Geir Tore Holm (external), Anne-Gro Erikstad (external), Gunnhild Torgersen (deputy chairman), Hilde Tørdal (board member), Erik Steen (director) and Tatiana Lozano (curator).

The process consists of three steps. First, a selection is made by the jury. Then a short list of candidates is invited by the curator to a short conversation, before the final selection. All artists will be notified of their submission status via e-mail during February 2025.

The exhibition program at the Norwegian Sculptors Society is based on the open call in combination with a curated program. For those who are not already members, the application will be treated as a combined application for both exhibition and membership.

Since 2018, NBF's gallery has distinguished itself as one of the country's most important arenas for three-dimensional art, with exhibitions where both young, established, international and historical positions are represented. See our exhibition archive: http://www.norskbilledhoggerforening.no/utstillinger

We are working to improve and actively seek the inclusion of historically underrepresented individuals based on ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, belief, and socio-economic status. Come as you are!

ABOUT THE APPLICATION FORM:

You will be asked to answer the following questions:

  1. What are you working with at the moment?

  2. In a reflective manner, describe in which way your practice approaches sculpture

  3. Would you like to create something completely new or to work with the evolution of an existent body of work? Either case, please elaborate in a brief text  

The following visual material is required:

PDF 1: Please include up to 5 photos of your workspace/studio and up to 5 photos of your own favourite works or projects in a combined PDF

PDF 2: portfolio and CV in a combined PDF

 

Restrictions:

If you have an institutional solo exhibition in Oslo during the period 2026-2027, you are not eligible to apply.


FAQ:

  • Do I have to be a member to apply?

No, the open call is open for everyone! But if you are invited to be part of the exhibition program, you automatically become a member of the Norwegian Sculptors Society.

  • Is the application for a solo exhibition?

The curator and jury will assess which projects end up as solo, group or other exhibition formats.

  • Can I apply with an outdoor project for the sculpture park?

Yes, but through a separate open call! From 2024 the sculpture park has its own open call, that is announced in the spring each year.

  • What are the size limits of the files I can upload to the application form?

The size limit for each PDF is 50MB. All information about size and format of the files is also available in the application form itself.

  • What is the different between attachment #1 and #2?

In the first attachment, we wish to see up to 5 photos of your studio/workspace, and up to 5 photos of your favourite works/projects. In the second one, we ask you to include a portfolio and CV. There are no strict rules or limits to the portfolio, but be mindful about showing the jury what you feel is important in your practice. It is also a nice opportunity to show the diversity within your works.

  • Can I send a physical application or model?

We only accept digital applications, due to both environmental reasons and physical capacity

  • I am unsure if my project is considered sculpture or is three-dimensional enough, can I still apply?

Yes, absolutely! We welcome all formats, and have a broad understanding of what is considered three-dimensional art. As long as you reflect on how sculpture is connected to your work as requested in the application form, you are good to go.