Cor Unum is a pottery arts center located at ‘s-Hertogenbosch, literally “the forest of the duke,’ the capital of North Brabant, Netherlands. They produce pottery created by important international designers, architects and visual artists.
The mission of Cor Unum is to foster social and cultural responsibility to the heritage of ceramic arts, relying on a team of professionals, students, volunteers, people far from the labor market and designers sharing a particular passion: to bring out emerging talents (and others) in keeping with the principle that everyone deserves a place, everyone has a talent and everyone can contribute to make the world a little more beautiful.
To this end, every year the company organizes an international competition open to students of art and design and former students (who have earned a degree no more than one year ago). The deadline for submissions is Monday 15 April 2024, and the guidelines for participation are found here: https://www.cor-unum.com/design-contesteng/
The theme of this edition is Grow: the ambassadors of the initiative, Gijs Wouters and Ruben Hoogvliet of Atelier Fig, are two talented young creatives, who ask us to respond to the question: “How can designs contribute in a positive way to the changing needs of people and nature? Think about what you consider important and what you want to see grow.”
The guidelines continue: “Growth is a dynamic process of development and progress. A process in which, unfortunately, we humans have pushed too far, beyond sustainable limits. However, could these same actions encourage balance? We invite designers and changemakers to experience, monitor, but above all, encourage a sense of connection with nature and the surrounding environment.”
On 23 May the 15 projects will be announced, after selection by the permanent jury composed of chairperson Mary Hessing (editor-in-chief of the magazine Woth), Bao Ya Fei (design curator), Anne van der Zwaag (director of the event Object Rotterdam) and Charlotte Landsheer (director of Cor Unum), along with the guest judges, the designers Gijs Wouters and Ruben Hoogvliet (Atelier Fig.).
During the course of the day the top three prizes will be assigned, while a public prize will be awarded by visitors from among works exhibited one week earlier at Cor Unum.
