Kaji Sculpture Festival Calls for Submissions

The second sculpture contest in Kaji Wetland in Nehbandan County, South Khorasan Province, is slated for early spring 2018.

Kaji Wetland Sculpture Festival is organized under the auspices of the provincial department of the Culture Ministry. Its first edition was held earlier this year in April, in which 30 groups from 11 provinces participated, Mehr News Agency reported.

Secretariat of the festival is at the ministry’s provincial department and will receive the images of planned sculptures until January 30. The website Khj.farhang.gov.ir/fa/home provides for electronic submissions.

Submissions will be judged by a panel of masters from College of Fine Arts, University of Tehran, including contemporary sculptor and art researcher Taher Sheikholhokamai, 63; sculptor and calligraphist Mohammad Bahrami, 45 and painter and sculptor Hadi Arabnarmi, 39.

The first phase of review will be held in early February and the selected artists will be announced on February 20, according to the director general of the provincial department Ahmad Mohebi.

Winners of the first place will receive the festival statuette, plaque of honor and a cash prize of 50 million rials ($1200). The second place winners will be awarded a plaque of honor with 40m rials ($950) and winners in the third rank will get a plaque and 30m rials ($700).

 Mohebi said the festival will help spread awareness about Kaji Wetland, which is full of opportunities considering its outstanding landscapes that can be integrated with ecotourism.

"Kaji usually receives rainfall between early February and mid April. This is when the area becomes a shelter for migratory birds," said the provincial director of the Department of Environment, Parviz Aramanesh, adding that the draught in recent years has kept the birds away even in the rainy months.