1st International Summer Festival of Ice Sculptures
"Planet Yakutia" presents the World's 1st International Summer Festival of Ice Sculptures held during June 24 – 27, 2009.
GENERAL INFORMATION
1. Background of the Festival and Facts about the Region:
"PLANET YAKUTIA" presents the World's 1st International Summer Festival of Ice Sculptures held during June 24 – 27, 2009. The Festival takes place inside a cave situated in the outskirts of the city of Yakutsk, on the tourist complex "The Permafrost Empire". The cave holds temperatures at minus 10 degrees Celsius or lower, all year round. The Republic of Sakha, or Yakutia as it also is named, is situated in the far east of Siberia, Russia. The whole republic is built on the permafrost which gives us the unique possibility of arranging an ice festival during the warm Siberian summer months. The World's 1st International Summer Festival of Ice Sculptures is an event hosted by the National Tour Operator; "PLANET YAKUTIA" in partnership with the Yakutsk City Administration and the Art-Studio "Muus Uus". "PLANET YAKUTIA" hopes that this festival will open the eyes of the traveling people of the world, to finally see that the Republic of Sakha is a real untouched diamond. The easiest way to explain the region is with 4 E's: Eco, Ethno, Extreme and Exotic.
2. "PLANET YAKUTIA" provides:
- Each team or participant will be provided with 3 blocks of ice (50x50x45cm).
- Complementary transportation to and from Yakutsk Airport.
- Complementary transportation to and from the hotel to the cave provided by "PLANET YAKUTIA".
- All participants also receive a certificate of participation on (NAME) - the World's 1st International Summer Festival of Ice Sculptures.
- Invitation Letter (for visa applicants).
- Help with accommodation bookings.
3. Participant/ Team Responsibilities upon entering Competition:
- Complete the entry application form including a short biography in English or Russian.
- A design sketch of the ice sculpture.
- Transportation to and from Yakutsk.
- Participation fee – 100 USD.
- Provision of all carving tools and equipment.
- To follow all participation guidelines and conditions as administered by judges.
- Russian Visa
- Accommodation
- Meals
4. General Participation Conditions:
- Each team or participants have to forward an initial draft sketch of the sculpture with the application form by email or fax by the 15th of June, 2009
- A final sketch must be turned in to the head judge prior to the start of the competition.
- A team shall represent a country or other self-governing territories (residence).
- A team shall consist of 2 persons; both must have reached adulthood (21 years).
- Every participant will be provided with 3 blocks of ice.
- The height of the ice sculpture should be no less than 1 meter.
- The ice will be used entirely and should be sculpted on all sides.
- The main materials allowed are ice and water.
- The work must be done within the timelines given; however breaks are at the participant's discretion.
5. Prizes and awards:
1st place – 3500 USD
2nd place – 2000 USD
3rd place – 1000 USD
Incentive prizes
6. Eligibility
The Worlds 1st International Summer Festival of Ice is an open competition with limited space. Please submit your application as soon as possible. The organizers will notify participants of their acceptance by June 16, 2009. A maximum of 10 teams or 20 participants will be accepted.
7. Ownership
All sculptures become the property of "PLANET YAKUTIA" when the festival is completed. "PLANET YAKUTIA" retains exclusive rights to the sculptures and may use any photographs, videos or reproductions in any commercial application. Others interested in the use of the ice sculpture for commercial means must receive written approval for that use from "PLANET YAKUTIA". The cave is planned to be used as a museum after the Festival.
8. Tool and equipment
Any manual and mechanical tools or lightning equipment will be allowed. All special and sophisticated tools for creation of the ice sculptures are the responsibility of each team.
The sculptors competing must supply all Carving tools including power tools. It is the sculptor's responsibility to cover the cost and arrangements for different equipment.
9. Safety
Safety first! During the whole competition each participant is obliged to comply with safety rules. Each participant is responsible for their own safety as well as the safety of other
competitors and the general public. All sculptors are also responsible for the safety of their sculpture. The site manager reserves the right to remove any sculptures that are determined to be a safety hazard. Organizers of the festival do not carry insurance against accidents. The organizers are not responsible for violation of the safety rules, tool operation rules, and not liable for injuries due to non-compliance with safety regulations. We recommend you to have a good travel insurance. "PLANET YAKUTIA" is not responsible for any accidents that may occur while working.
10. Goals and Objectives
The goal is to acquaint visitors with the world's architectural masterpieces and the culture of the people of the world. Due to the permafrost the ice sculptures can be stored and preserved for many years and hopefully we can use the cave as a museum for the future. We also hope to raise the level of aesthetic sense of the audience and to widely promote ice sculpturing. Another objective is to promote international friendship and understanding through the art, but also to give the sculptors the opportunity to exchange their experiences and knowledge.
11. Judgment:
Commission Board consists of 5 members; NTC "Yakutia", Yakutsk City Administration and the ArtStudio "MuusUus". The works are estimated based on the following criteria:
- Compliance with the conditions of competition and compliance with the theme of the contest.
- The originality and creativity of the ideas.
- Technique and level of artistic skills.
- Expressive and completeness of the image.
- Rational use of materials (ice).
Commission members will evaluate the team's works of 10 scoring system. The scores of each member will be summed to obtain the total score, which will determine the winners as a final result. On case of equal numbers of scores, the winner will be determined by the chairman of the Commission Board. To make a fair and strict judgment the judges will consist of teams representatives.
FESTIVAL PROGRAM
June 24th, 2009
• Participant's arrival at Yakutsk Airport, transfer to accommodation by "PLANET YAKUTIA".
• Note! Participants who arrive from Moscow:
o Departure June 23rd at 17.00 from Vnukovo Airport (Moscow time).
o Arrival June 24th at 05.40 at Yakutsk Airport (Yakut time).
• Visit to the natural source "Buluus" which is a unique source of groundwater that forms frazil (ice crystals) of clean fresh water and it is not even melting in hot weather.
• Visit to the tourist complex "Orto Doidu".
• Opening Ceremony
June 25th, 2009
• Competition (competitive work) at the cave located the area of Viluyskay. 5km outside the city. "PLANET YAKUTIA" provides pick up at the different hotels.
June 26th, 2009
• Competition at the cave located the area of Viluyskay. 5km outside the city. "PLANET YAKUTIA" provides pick up at the different hotels.
June 27th, 2009
• Ice Sculpture Show at the famous "Ysyakh" Festival (Traditional Summer Festival with greeting to the Sun)
***All transportation to and from the Airport and the Festival Area will be provided by "PLANET YAKUTIA"***
