The program

Regulations Open space

Art. 1Artistic profile

This new category is intended for various innovative musical and sound-based approaches and is open to association with all other forms of artistic expression. Candidates are invited to present performative projects (art. 3) that differ from the concert format as admitted in the category «Interpretation».

Art. 2Conditions of participation

1 The following will be admitted to the competition:

  1. musicians and artists of all disciplines holding Swiss nationality;
  2. musicians and artists of all disciplineswho have had permanent residence in Switzerland for at least 12 months before the registration deadline of the competition.

2 A maximum number of 7 persons is admissible per project (including performers and directors).

3 In the case of participation as a group, at least half of its members must fulfil the criteria stated under art. 2 para. 1, letters a and b.

4 The minimum age for participation is 18 years on the closing date for registration (i.e. born before 1 May 2001). The maximum age is 35 years (born after 31 August 1983).

5 Multiple registrations of a candidate for the same edition of the competition are not allowed, neither for one nor for both categories.

Art. 3Projects

1 Only projects not hitherto performed in public may be submitted.

2 The total duration of a project may not exceed 50 minutes.

3 The design and realisation of projects must be in full compliance with the spatial and technical specifications of the performance venues. In addition, the turnaround times stated in Art. 9 para. 3 must be adhered to.

4 The technical riders and the stage plans are an integral part of these regulations and are available on request via the competition administration.

5 The use of technical equipment requires prior consultation with the competition management.

6 The competition management must be notified immediately of any significant changes to the project after admission to the competition (art. 6).

Art. 4Registration

1 The registration deadline is 30 April 2019. This period may under no circumstances be extended.

2 The registration has to be made directly on the website of the competition. No other means of registration will be allowed.

3 If any questions or problems regarding online registration should arise, please contact the competition administration.

4 Registration will only be final after receipt of the following documents and information:

  1. completed online form;
  2. a presentation dossier of maximum 5 A4 pages allowing the jury to get a concrete idea of the project;
  3. scan of the candidate(s)’ identity card or passport;
  4. official certificate of Swiss residence (if the participants in question are not Swiss citizens);
  5. portrait photo in colour or black and white, for free use by the competition; in case of participation as a group, a group photo must be provided;
  6. a technical data sheet and a stage plan.

5 In the case of participation as a group, the members will designate a responsible person who assumes the role of contact person for the competition administration during the competition.

6All documents must be submitted in German, French or English. Documents in other languages must be accompanied by a certified translation.

Art. 5Registration fee

1Registration is only complete when the registration fee of CHF 250 per application has been paid into the following account: CP 60-483476-9, Association du Concours Nicati, IBAN: CH 89 0900 0000 6048 3476 9, BIC: POFICHBEXXX.

2 The registration fee is due upon admission (art. 6) to the competition.

3 The registration fee will be refunded to candidates after their participation in the competition. It will also be refunded to the candidates who are not admitted to the competition, regardless of the reasons for refusal.

4 Candidates will not be refunded who do not attend the competition or who withdraw their registration without good reason after the deadline for registration.

5 If a candidate is unable to participate due to illness, the registration fee can only be reimbursed upon presentation of a medical certificate.

Art. 6Admission

1 At the end of the registration period, the competition management checks whether the candidate’s documents are complete and formally comply with the provisions of these regulations.

2 The competition management reserves the right to ask candidates to provide additional information.

3 In the event of missing documents or incomplete information, the candidates have seven days to provide them after being requested to do so by the competition management. In the event that this request is not met in time, the competition management reserves the right to exclude such candidates from participation.

4 The candidates will be informed of their admission by 10 May 2019 at the latest.

Art. 7Procedure of the competition

1 The competition is divided into two rounds and a final presentation: the preselection by dossier (art. 8), the scenic presentation of the selected projects (art. 9), and the presentation of the winning project in the final (art. 10).

2 The stage presentation and the final are open to the public.

3 Decisions of the jury are not subject to appeal.

Art. 8Preselection by dossier

1 The jury will select 6 to 8 projects from all the valid applications submitted; these will then be admitted to the stage presentation (art. 9).

2 The jury will select projects on the basis of the dossiers submitted, taking into particular consideration the completed online form (Art. 4 para. 4 letter a) and the dossier (letter b).

3 The jury will meet in May 2019.

4 Candidates will be informed of the jury’s decisions by 5 June 2019 at the latest, without any reasons for that decision being given by the competition management.

Art. 9Stage presentations

1 The stage presentations of the projects selected in the first round will take place on 26 and 27 August 2019 at the Auditorium (O103) of the Bern University of the Arts: Music Division, Ostermundigenstrasse 103, 3006 Bern.

2 For this round, the candidates will appear in an order determined by drawing lots, also taking into account the parameters of stage installation.

3 The maximum time allowed for installing and dismantling the stage is 60 minutes in each case.

4 The jury shall select a single winning project from among all the projects presented on stage.

Art. 10Presentation of the winning project

1 The winning project shall be performed on 31 August 2019 at 20:00 at the Kesselhaus of the Dampfzentrale, Marzilistrasse 47, 3005 Bern.

2 The competition shall remunerate the artists for this performance.

3 The Kesselhaus will be available on the day of the final from 9 am to 3:30 pm for installation purposes and rehearsals if needed.

Art. 11Open space Prize

1 Only one prize will be awarded in the category «Open Space», amounting to CHF 15,000.

2 The prize will be awarded by the jury at the ceremony to be held on the evening of the final at the Dampfzentrale Bern.

Art. 12Prize-winners’ performances

1 In close collaboration with various cultural institutions and festivals, the competition organises concerts for the prize-winners. However, there is no legal claim on the part of the winners to this promotional service.

2 Participation by the winners in this promotional service is voluntary, and will be remunerated by the competition.

3 Any major changes to the project are only permitted after prior agreement with the competition management.

Art. 13Assignment of rights

1 The participants transfer to the organisers of the competition the right to record the performances (images and sound). All rights of use necessary for the reproduction, sale, distribution, broadcasting or (re-)transmission of the audio or audiovisual recording(s) and for making them visible or heard or otherwise available, are thus transferred in full to the organisers.

2 Rights legally managed by collecting societies are excluded from the transfer of rights.

3 If the recordings are utilised commercially, the participants shall receive a part of the income from that utilisation. A written agreement must be concluded to this effect.

4 The participants have the right to have their names indicated appropriately when the abovementioned recordings are utilised.

5 The participants shall receive a copy of the recordings and may use them for their own promotion (own website, social media).

Art. 14General conditions

1 By entering the competition, the candidates undertake to participate in all the rounds and the prize-giving ceremony.

2 By registering, the candidates agree that their names, biographies, programmes and photos may be used on the competition website, social networks and any other communication media of the competition and partner organisations.

3 Upon presentation of receipts, the competition will reimburse the prize-winners for travel expenses incurred in Switzerland on the day of the final, up to a maximum of CHF 200 per person.

4 The competition does not cover costs incurred in connection with any illness and/or accident of the candidates during their stay in Bern.

5 In case of discrepancies between the French, German and English versions of these regulations, the French version shall be deemed legally valid.

6 By registering for the competition, the candidates signify their agreement with these regulations.