Professional artists can now submit expressions of interest to create an LGBTQI+ monument at Esperantoplatsen in Gothenburg. The artwork should partly represent a physical place in the urban space, and partly tell stories about the fight for LGBTQI+ rights in Gothenburg, and in doing so highlight the city’s progress on the issue. Apply by 15 September.
Background
Following a submission to the Charles Felix Lindberg endowment fund in 2018, the LGBTQ council of the City of Gothenburg took the initiative for the City of Gothenburg to create an artwork that would represent and remind people of the city’s fight for LGBTQI rights. The submission was approved the same year in the municipal council.
An excerpt from the submission reads:
“We would therefore like to see The City of Gothenburg create an artwork to represent this fight as well as the progress of the city. The artwork should remind us of a period in time that should forever be consigned to the past, but it should also serve as a visual reminder about the continuous and persistent work necessary to achieve equal rights and the equal value of all people. The artwork is also going to be a memorial to pay tribute to—and to never forget—those who have gone before us. To those who could never come out, to those who have broken new ground, to those who are fighting today and showing the way. For a brighter tomorrow, to those who continue to fight for us, after us.”
A research and participatory pilot study was performed during 2019–2021 in which artists, LGBTQI+ organizations and the general public were invited to contribute, influence and to participate. The purpose of the pilot study was, among other things, to gather and generate knowledge about the relationship between LGBTQI+ issues, contemporary art, the city and history, and in doing so create a basis for the formulation of the assignment for the artist. The different parts of the pilot study can be found in Swedish at hbtqi.goteborgkonst.se.
The assignment
The assignment is to create a unique, location-specific and permanent artwork that is going to become an LGBTQI+ monument in Gothenburg. The concept of a “monument” in this context has several meanings: the monument as a public standpoint, as a manifestation, as an activation of memories, and as a writing of history.
The LGBTQI+ monument should partly represent a physical place in the urban space, and partly tell stories about the fight for LGBTQI+ in Gothenburg, and in doing so highlight the city’s progress on the issue. The monument is going to act as a reminder about this fight; today, historically, and in the future.
The pilot study has also pointed out the need for a representative artwork, a manifesto that both takes and creates space in the urban environment. A space to meet and gather in, to remember, to grieve, dream and rejoice. A space for manifestation, dialogue and reflection. Community rather than the individual should be central to the artwork.
The history of Gothenburg’s LGBTQI+ is all of our history. The monument could likewise promote the equal rights and value of all people. The assignment is complex and requires many different perspectives and experiences to be considered and taken into account. There is not only one story or fight, but a diverse range of these. At the same time it is of utmost importance that the artistic quality is in focus.
Esperantoplatsen
The place for the artwork is Esperantoplatsen, a promenade in the center of Gothenburg that connects Järntorget with Kungsgatan. Today there is a language café, several restaurants and a theatre here. Skaters can be seen making good use of this place, which is located next to the Carolus XI Rex Bastion, whose tall and significant stone wall was built in the 17th century.
The location got its name in 1954 on behalf of the town’s Esperanto clubs, and it was placed in the area where the Workers’ Educational Association and the Esperanto movement had long been operating. The location that would become Esperantoplatsen had long since been surrounded by different warehouses and industrial buildings which were strategically placed close to the docks at Vallgraven and Göta älv.
The two story building in the center with its yellow tiles characteristic of Gothenburg was built in 1849 as part of a spinning mill. Several businesses have since been housed in the building. In 1986 the Gothenburg branch of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex rights (RFSL) moved in and with it emerged Hellmans Café, the book store Rosa Rummet i Göteborg, a library and the gay club Touch. RFSL had to relocate to new premises in 1999 when parts of the building had to be torn down and renovated. A language café was instead opened in the house in 2004.
The upcoming monument will share the urban space with these different historical contexts and contribute to the already diverse character of the location.
Other locations
The assignment can be described as two layers that intertwine with each other. There is the physically represented location as a marker in the urban space, and then there is the representation of stories about the fight and the city’s development. The former will be represented in Esperantoplatsen, while the latter will be integrated into the physical location Esperantoplatsen and/or be geographically spread out in the city. Both parts should be clearly associated with each other, and they should be interpreted as parts of a whole. The artwork should be permanent and timeless.
Compensation
A sketch fee of 50,000 SEK excluding VAT will be paid to three chosen artists/art groups (no compensation will be paid for the expression of interest).
The artist’s budget for the artwork is 1,200,000 SEK excluding VAT.
Preliminary schedule
| 17 June – 15 September 2021: Open call | |
| October 2021: assignment of sketch tasks | |
| October 2021 – February 2022: Sketch period | |
| March 2022: Assignment of tasks | |
| Spring 2022 – 2023: Production of the LGBTQI+ monument | |
| 2023: Inauguration of the LGBTQI+ monument |
About the procurement
To be able to apply for the assignment you need to be a professional artist. Professional means that you should have proof of a completed university/college art education, or have a proven track record of qualified artistic work, or other equivalent qualifications. The assignment can be carried out in collaboration with multiple artists and/or in collaboration with other types of artistic disciplines.
The procurement will be a selective procedure, which means that it will be carried out in two steps. In the first step, an open call will be carried out where professional artists can submit their expression of interest.
In the second step three artists/artist groups will be chosen to put forward each of their sketch proposals for the artwork. Thereafter a decision will be made on which artist/artist group gets the final assignment.
Submit the expression of interest on TendSign
The expression of interest has to be submitted electronically on TendSign. All the information regarding the requirements for submitting an expression of interest can be found on TendSign. In order to submit an expression of interest you need to create a user account on tendsign.com. Creating an account is free.
The information on TendSign is in Swedish. The expression of interest can be submitted in Swedish, English, Norwegian and Danish.
- All the information about the assignment and the expression of interest can be found in the document ”Inbjudan till intresseanmälan (pdf)” (in Swedish).
- Link to the procurement at TendSign.
Deadline for the expression of interest
Submit your expression of interest by 15 September 2021, at 23:59.
Do you have any questions?
The announcement is made through a public procurement process, which means that everyone who submits an expression of interest will receive the same information. That is why we cannot answer any questions by phone or email. The questions have to be asked directly in TendSign, where all received questions and answers as well as any additions and amendments will be published.