Provocation

The announcement of the KUPF Innovation Pool and the criteria for entries in english!
Deadline for entries: 13th February 2006

Provocation – a buzz word. Omnipresent, hyped by the media, used by advertising and politics as a method, as an instrument, seeking attention by provoking overblown reactions with exaggeration.

„The clamor of contemporary culture, politics and society can be explained by the attempt to make oneself heard.“

Extracted from a judgemental sheathing, provocation can be regarded as a tried and true means of eliciting a reaction from an opponent, from a counterpart.

The protagonists of independent cultural work, independent cultural initiatives have also long since discovered the instrument, the method of provocation for themselves, made use of it and worked with it. Provocation is inseparably linked with the histories of independent cultural work.
Far removed from calculated paths, provocation turns to hazardous positions, is in danger of failing and requires a great deal of willingness to take risks.

Yet like so many other instruments, the effectiveness of provocation has been dampened by oversaturation, which raises numerous questions.

– Is provocation necessary to get attention today?

– Now, at a time when everything seeks to provoke, is it not perhaps more appropriate to seek an opposite of provocation as an instrument for arousing attention?

– Or is provocation still a legitimate and effective means of inducing social changes and upheavals?

– Is it necessary to couple independent cultural work, independent cultural initiatives with the instrument of provocation?

– Is there even a will to break through the climate of consensus with disruptive impulses and provocations?

– Can questions provoke more than answers?

The KUPF – Upper Austrian Cultural Platform extends an invitation to grasp provocation as a concept, method and instrument and to submit projects from the context of independent art and cultural work.

The KUPF Innovation Pool invites submissions of projects, which:
·take place in Upper Austria or whose subject matter can establish a strong relationship to Upper Austria;
·are located in the field of contemporary art and/or culture and relate to the announcement text;
·have a regional or local relevance;

·cross boundaries (geographically or thematically)
·are distinguished by an unconventional and, in the regional context, innovative idea;
·guarantee gender equality in their planning and execution;
·give preference to protagonists and/or include as target group socially disadvantaged groups.

Formal Criteria:
•Entrants can be independent cultural initiatives or individuals or groups, regardless of origins, residence or nationality. Entries will not be accepted from regional administrative bodies, public departments, churches, political parties, employees and board members of the Upper Austrian Cultural Platform (KUPF) or the KUPF itself.
•Deadline for entries is Monday, 13 February 2006 (postmarked)
•Applications (see guidelines) must be sent to the KUPF (address below) in 10 copies on paper.

•Those responsible for the project are obligated to provide the KUPF with material (photos, logos, texts, …), which KUPF can use for PR work with the relevant media, and a concluding report (with project documentation and evaluation).
•Realization of the projects: from the jury decision to the end of 2006. Projects that have already been started or realized cannot be funded by the Innovation Pool.

Guidelines for Entries
The project entry must include the following sections so that it can be judged by the jury:
•Project description: a detailed description of the project, the motivation for it and its relevance to the theme and the regional situation.
•Self-presentation of the entrant: who is responsible for the project, which cultural/art projects have already been realized.
•Budget: realistically calculated project costs and revenues; need for financing from the KUPF Innovation Pool.
•Completed project matrix (template in the downloadsection)

•Brief description of the project and the self-presentation (form will be provided) in electronic form for publication of all submitted projects on the KUPF web site.

The project description and self-presentation should not be longer than 10 pages in total.

Jury:
A five-member jury of regional and transregional experts in the field of contemporary art and cultural work will make a selection from the submitted projects in a public jury meeting in March 2006 and present these to the Upper Austrian provincial government for funding. The exact location and date of the jury meeting will be announced to the entrants beforehand.

Dotation:
The KUPF Innovation Pool is provided with at least 75,000 Euro from the Cultural Support Fund of the Province of Upper Austria. KUPF will endeavor to secure additional project funding. Payment of the funding will be made beginning in May 2006 at the earliest.

Consultation, Information and Publicity

The KUPF team offers consultation for potential entrants.
A short version of the announcement is also available in several foreign languages from the KUPF web site.

The KUPF will take care of transregional press work on the jury process and will accompany/document the projects in its own media. Those responsible for the projects will receive support for their own press work if they wish.

The KUPF offers a meeting for interested entrants to discuss questions about content and organization:
Friday, 20 January 2006, 4 pm in the KUPF office, Untere Donaulände 10, 4020 Linz.
Following the selection of the projects, a meeting will be held with those responsible for the projects funded by the Innovation Pool to discuss the most important organizational questions and proceedings.

Legal Regulations

The decision of the jury is final. The submission of a project does not entitle the participant to any legal claims. The entrant retains all copyrights. The KUPF is not responsible for any costs arising for the participant due to participation in this competition. The KUPF assumes no responsibility for submitted project materials. Such materials become the property of KUPF without recompense.
The funding to be awarded comes from the public funds of the Federal Province of Upper Austria. Projects already funded by the Federal Province of Upper Austria under the title Cultural Funding are therefore not eligible for additional funding from the KUPF Innovation Pool. The award and accounting of the funds will comply with current regulations of the Federal Province of Upper Austria.
The selected projects are obligated to attach the logo of the Federal Province of Upper Austria and the Innovation Pool logo along with the remark „Funded by the Federal Province of Upper Austria in conjunction with the KUPF Innovation Pool“ (templates will be provided by the KUPF) to all advertising material and products in conjunction with the realization of the project and to indicate funding through the Innovation Pool in all of their own press releases and press conferences.