12th INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE SYMPOSIUM
17 May – 28 May 2012

"De Stenen Poort" in Borkel en Schaft, the Netherlands, is a foundation established in 1990 by a group of five sculptors, all of them working in stone.

The group organized its first and second International Sculpture in Stone symposium in 1991 and 1992. It was then they decided to organise such an international symposium every two year. These symposiums consisted of a working period during which each of the participating artists made a sculpture in stone, followed by a public exhibition which gave the sculptors the opportunity to sell their work. The participants exchanged information about cultural and social life in their countries, as well as knowledge about tools and materials; they started friendships and many of them sold their work. All this made these symposiums a great success.
To date eleven of such symposiums took place and about a hundred sculptors from all over the world have participated already in them (see the Appendix). In the non-symposium years there were exhibitions of the work of Belgian and Dutch sculptors. "De Stenen Poort" is now preparing the 12th  edition of the International Sculpture in Stone symposium. Artists from all countries are invited to participate. They can take with them one or two of their existing sculptures, which they will be allowed to show and sell at the exhibition, along with the work made during the symposium. If you are interested, spread the news to other sculptors and read the detailed information given below.

1. Location
Borkel en Schaft is one of the small parishes of the municipality of Valkenswaard near the Belgian border, between Lommel (B) and Eindhoven(NL).
"De Stenen Poort" has an open-air working area (1000 m2), a workshop with wooden stands and a 40 m2 shed for shelter.

2. The organising committee
Mieke Beijer from Beek en Donk
Anneke Janse from Overpelt ~Belgium
Hermann Knupfer from Valkenswaard
Jan van de Pol from Helmond
Annet de Wit from Borkel en Schaft.

3. The dates of the working period and the exhibition
The working period will be from Thursday 17th of May till Monday 28th of May 2012.
The exhibition will start on Monday 28th of May and close on Sunday 3 th of June 2012.
During the week of the exhibition, you will be free to stay and visit museums, other exhibitions etc.
To give the visitors of the exhibition the opportunity to look at the sculptures in a quiet atmosphere, you will not be allowed to make new sculptures in the week of the exhibition.
The sculptures made during the symposium will have to remain on the location of “De Stenen Poort” until the end of the exhibition (3th of June 2012).

4. Material
Medium-sized blocks of natural stone ( Belgian bluestone, limestone, various kinds of marble etc.) will be available free of charge. If you want other stone varieties or bigger blocks, you will be able to order them from local traders at cost price.

5. Sculpturing tools
In principle, you will use your own tools. Pneumatic tools will not be allowed.

6. Number of participants
Max. 16

7. Selection
For the selection procedure, you are requested to send us  the following:
- a recent passport photo
- some photos showing your work
- a completed application form
- a curriculum vitae.
For the purpose of a symposium catalogue and information on our website, also include a few good  photos or digital images ( (1 MB) of your work (no photocopies). We prefer digital images on CD.
Referring to your website is not enough!

8. Accommodation
During the working and exhibition period you will be accommodated at “Dommelvallei”, a group accommodation nearby.  The costs of accommodation are included in the enrolment fee. We will be willing to make reservations on your behalf if you prefer to stay at one of the local hotels (at your own expense).

9. Meals
Meals will be provided during the working period only. They are included in the fee. Good field kitchen quality may be expected.

10. Insurance
During transport to and from the symposium site, the work will not be covered by any insurance. Neither the organising committee nor the owner of the working area can be held responsible for any accident, injury or material damage during the working period and the exhibition week. You should therefore have an accident insurance yourself.

11. Publicity
We will take care of publicity.  Some invitation cards will be sent to you.

12. Costs
The costs of the working period have deliberately been kept low. The all-in price (for lodging and meals during the working period, insurance, materials, publicity, paperwork, catalogue and costs of the exhibition, including drinks) amounts to € 200. The terms and conditions will be sent to you after your enrolment has been confirmed by us.
Sculptors from outside Western Europe will only have to pay the enrolment fee if they sell a work during the symposium or exhibition.

13. Proceeds
If an artist sells work, he or she will be asked to hand in 20% of the proceeds for the organisation and for improvements to the infrastructure of the location. At the past symposia sales were excellent.
50-80% of the sculptors sold one of their works.

14. Enrolment
Use the enrolment form ( see below)
Enrolment closing date: 1 December 2011.

15. For further information, contact:
Annet de Wit- Dorpstraat 30
5556 VL Borkel & Schaft (NL)
Mieke Beijer- Brakenstraat 14-5741 SR Beek en Donk (NL)
Tel.: 0031-492462696     E-mail: miekebeijer@hotmail.com
Jan van de Pol- Wolfsputten 4-5709 PB Helmond (NL)
Tel.: 0031-492383794   E-mail: doespol@planet.nl

Appendix

The following sculptors have been participated in "De Stenen Poort" since 1990:

12th INTERNATIONAL SCULPTURE IN STONE SYMPOSIUM  
17th  of May – 28th of   May 2012 BORKEL EN SCHAFT, THE NETHERLANDS

Please fill in and mail this form back to:
Jan van de Pol
De Wolfsputten 4
5709 PB Helmond
The Netherlands