Art competitions at the Olympic Games
Art competitions at the Olympic Games were held from 1912 to 1948. The idea goes to Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympic movement, back. Medals were awarded for works that have a sports-related, in the five fields of architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture. The art competitions in 1954 permanently deleted from the program of the Olympic Games. 1956 cultural events took the place of the art competitions. While all athletes had to follow the strict rules of the Amateur Statute, artists were also eligible if they earned their living with art.
- 3.1 medalist
History
With the founding of the International Olympic Committee ( 1894 ) and the implementation of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens (1896 ) Pierre de Coubertin saw his ideals - the promotion of mental and physical health as well as the hosting of sports events instead of passing wars - met. Another of his wishes was to combine art and sport, which is why he suggested the implementation of equal art competitions at the Olympic Games.
In May 1906 de Coubertin organized a conference in Paris, which in addition to IOC members, representatives were invited by artists' organizations. The conference ended with a request to the IOC to carry out architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture art competitions in the five areas. The submitted works of art had to be inspired by this sport.
It began preparations for the conduct of such competitions at the 1908 Olympic Games, for which the city of Rome was intended as a venue. But the Italian organizers were due to financial difficulties not able to properly prepare for the Games, so that the IOC in 1907 London as the venue for certain. The British organizers were basically ready to take the art competitions in the program, but in the end they had to be canceled due to a short preparation time. It was felt that artists would have to send in by the changed circumstances is not enough time to create their works and.
Pierre de Coubertin was not discouraged by this setback but did everything to accommodate the art competitions in the program of the Summer Games in Stockholm in 1912. Although the Swedish organizers about this idea were initially reluctant, they eventually relented. However, the number of submitted work was rather disappointing: only 35 artists were involved. However, medals were awarded in all categories.
In the Summer Games in Antwerp in 1920, the art competitions were again on the agenda, however, were hardly noticed by the public and had the character of a side event. However, this changed four years later in Paris. For the first time took artistic circles art competitions seriously, because no less than 193 works were submitted for evaluation. Also notable was the participation of three artists from the Soviet Union, since the country adopted until 1952 not to sport competitions in part because it viewed the Olympics as " bourgeois event."
The importance of art competitions took at the Summer Games in 1928 in Amsterdam again significantly. In the Stedelijk Museum over 1100 works were exhibited, not even counting the literature, music and architecture posts. Four of the five categories were divided into further subcategories. The artists were allowed all their works of art for sale at the end of the exhibition. This was rather controversial, considering that the IOC otherwise strictly held to the Rules of Amateur Status.
Because of the global economic crisis and the then restricted accessibility of Los Angeles, there were at the sporting competitions of the 1932 Summer Games, significantly fewer participants than 1928. The art contests, however, were not affected, the number of work received remained stable. A total of 384,000 people visited the exhibition in the " Los Angeles Museum of History, Science and Art." The art competitions at the Summer Games in 1936 and the Summer Games in 1948 found the public similar to well received, even if the number of contestants dropped noticeably.
At the IOC Congress in Rome in 1949, a report was published which demonstrated that virtually all participants in the art competitions of her artistic work lived. As this was contrary to the Rules of Amateur Status, the competitions should be abolished and replaced by an exhibition without awards or medals. The report caused within the IOC fierce debate. At the Congress of 1951, the IOC reintroduction at the Summer Games in 1952 in Helsinki decided. But the Finnish organizers did a lack of time for preparations claims and so neither art competitions were still pure art exhibitions.
At the IOC Congress in 1954, the members decided to replace the art competitions finally through exhibitions. Later, there were numerous attempts to return to this decision, but without effect. However, addition of the Olympic Charter obliged the organizers of future Games for conducting cultural events in order to " promote harmonious relations, mutual understanding and friendship between the participants and visitors to the Olympics."
Competitions
Between 1912 and 1948, the detailed rules for the art contests changed, but the main rules always remained the same. All submitted works had inspired by the sport and be original (ie, they could not have been published before the Olympics ). As with the athletic competitions gave you the artists gold, silver and bronze medals. However, not all medals were awarded in all competitions. In a few occasions, no medals were awarded for lack of participants. The artists were allowed to submit multiple works of art, even if the number was sometimes limited. Thus, it was theoretically possible for an artist to win several medals in the same competition.
Art competitions were held in the areas of architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture. Several times, the suggestion was made to consider dance, film, photography and theater, but the IOC did not take any of these forms of artistic expression on the program.
Architecture
In the architecture, there were two categories. In the category of " general architecture " competitions were organized from 1912 to 1948, the category "Urban " was added in 1928. The dividing line was not always clearly defined and some designs have received awards in both categories. Architectural contributions were in contrast to the other competitions before the Olympics, " published " (or built ) are. A well-known example of this is, who received a gold medal for the Amsterdam Olympic Stadium Wils January 1928.