On the subject of “Sound art” from 25.08. – 31.8.2025
For one week in the summer, Neuchâtel becomes a stronghold of creative art. Selected artists from all over the world come to Neuchâtel and create their very own art on the annually changing themes of our art weeks. Always very close to the population – and sometimes even together with them – they bring art to the countryside.
The 42nd Neuchâtel Art Week will focus on the versatile uses of clay as an artistic material. Clay is an ancient yet incredibly versatile material that can be used in various forms and techniques to express artistic creativity. During the Neuchâtel Art Week, artists and participants will not only use the traditional ways of working and processing clay, but will also develop experimental approaches to creatively work out the different facets of clay and present artistically sophisticated results at the closing event. The event offers space for sculptures, paintings, installations and experimental art. In the municipality of Zetel in particular, clay plays an immensely important role in the production of the clinker bricks and tiles that are so typical of the region. Numerous street names in the region bear witness to clay as the basic material for bricks: Dwokuhlenweg (Dwo – heavy, dark clay), Lehmhörn (Lehm – sandy clay), Lemmesweg (after the former brickworks owner Georg Wilhelm Lemme), Lippstadtweg (after the brickmaker from Lipperland), Kleihörn (fat, clay-rich marshy earth) and the brick roads in Bockhorn and Zetel. The Uhlhorn clinker brickworks still produces Bockhorn clinker today and emphasizes the important raw material clay as the basis for outstanding
product quality.
We are looking for five artists who use the material “clay” in all its diversity. The call for entries is explicitly not limited to the classic uses of the raw material for sculptures, reliefs, objects or inlays. In order to represent a current cross-section of contemporary clay art, we are particularly looking for artists who use the well-known material innovatively and possibly in unusual ways for their art.
The results of the art week will be presented to the public in the final presentation (Saturday and/or Sunday) at the historic Rauchkaten site near Neuenburg Castle. Sunday is reserved for the presentation and exchange with guests of the art week and a wide audience is to be addressed with an atmospheric supporting program and inspired for the art objects and the artists. On some days of the art week, the invited artists will open their studio workshops (open air and indoor) to the public and be available to answer questions from interested visitors. A small program booklet will be published for the art week, in which the participating artists and their works will be presented. The invited artists will receive a lump-sum allowance of 900 euros gross as well as free accommodation and meals. Participation in the art week is advertised nationwide. The artist must bring his/her own tools. Individual tools can be rented if necessary.
be provided. Raw material (clay) is provided. Simple workspaces are available (open air and in sheds on the premises). The works created during the symposium remain the property of the artist. A right of first refusal for works of art created on site for the Kunstverein Bahner e. V. and for the municipality of Zetel is deemed to have been agreed with participation in the art week. Artists can apply with immediate effect. Informative applications including a short CV, an overview of your oeuvre and a project proposal with a brief explanation, sketch or photo in printable resolution should be submitted to the cultural office of the municipality of Zetel by e-mail to .
hands-on activities: We focus on the conceptual involvement of school classes, young people and locals. For this reason, three instructors offer free hands-on activities for school classes on the topic during the week. The focus here is on having fun in conjunction with conveying artistic perspectives and creating “art from clay”.
Application deadline: February 15, 2025