______________________________________________________________________

The 43rd Painting Biennale ‘Bielska Jesień' 2017
under the auspices of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage

Bielska Jesień is an open competition for Polish artists living in Poland and abroad. Its entrants are both graduates of art schools and individuals with a record of artistic achievements but no degree in art (adult applicants only). Bielska Jesień aims to review and promote contemporary Polish paintings.

All the works submitted for the competition are presented in the Virtual Gallery on the website of the biennale: www.bielskajesien.pl.

Internet users can view the photos of the works, evaluate them, and thus become art critics and jurors. There are two competitions for Internet users, who choose the most interesting artist to enter the competition, and also write a short review of what they think is the most interesting work.

The winners of the awards and honourable mentions are selected by a five-member jury composed of experts in contemporary art, i.e. art historians, curators, critics and artists. The jury of Bielska Jesień 2017 are: Hanna Wróblewska - an art historian, critic, curator of exhibitions, director of the "Zachęta" National Art Gallery; Jerzy Kosałka - a multimedia artist, painter, performer; Jerzy Truszkowski - a painter, performer, curator, and art critic; Ryszard Ziarkiewicz - an art historian, critic, curator; founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of Magazyn Sztuki (Art Magazine); Agata Smalcerz - an art historian, critic, curator of exhibitions, director of Galeria Bielska BWA.

The winner of the Biennale will garner the Grand Prix, i.e. the Award of the Minister of Culture and National Heritage in the amount of PLN 20,000, the Award of the Director of Galeria Bielska BWA in the amount of 10 thousand, and the organization of a solo exhibition. The jury also awards the second and third prizes, as well as five honourable mentions. The second prize (PLN 20,000) is sponsored by the Marshal of the Province of Silesia; the third prize (PLN 10,000) by the Mayor of the City of Bielsko-Biała (PLN 10 thousand); and the honourable mentions (PLN 2,000 each) by a number of companies supporting the Gallery. The total pool amounts to PLN 70,000.

 

OPENING EVENTS WITHIN THE BIENNALE:

9 November, 2017, 5 pm:

Opening of the final exhibition, announcing the results of the competition, awarding prizes and honourable mentions to the winners of the competition, presentation of a catalogue devoted to the Bielska Jesień 2017 (admission with invitation cards only)

10 November 2017, 11 am

Free exhibition tour led by the jurors; panel discussion with artists, jurors and critics (free admission)

 

The exhibition is open to visitors from 10 November to 31 December 2017.

 

Curator of the Competition: Grażyna Cybulska

_____________________________________________________

The 43rd Biennale of Painting ‘Bielska Jesień' 2017
is co-funded by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage.