full Competition Document (long Version)

Abstract (short Version)



Artists and Art and Design Students



Concept Proposal Deadline: Mai 29, 2010
Announcement of the Winners: Jun 15, 2010
Journey of the Winners to Germany: Aug - Sep 2010
LISTROS-AWARD Ceremony: Sep 25, 2010



3-Week Workshop in Berlin, Germany
Award Ceremony in the Arcades at Potsdam Square in Berlin



The competition seeks art concepts from the fields of art and design dealing with the following topics:
1. The old and new perception of Ethiopia, and, subsequently, of Africa - from welfare case and synonym for poverty to African Renaissance, from victim consciousness to creative selfconsciousness.
2. The value of work as illustrated by the example of the Ethiopian Listros and their shining works.
3. An analysis of what unites Africa and Europe using the example of the Ethiopian Listros.
It is not required but preferable that at least one, if not all three topics listed above, are addressed by the competition participants.



Among those Ethiopian artists and art students who participated in the concept competition, three will be selected to travel to Germany to realize their concepts during a stay of three weeks in Berlin.
The winners of the entire competition will be awarded with the LISTROS-AWARD 2010 for the best realized art objects with:
First Prize:      €3.000
Second Prize: €1.500
Third Prize:        €500



LISTROS Association seeks to build a bridge between Ethiopia and Germany, actively integrating children, young adults, artists and art students. It is our aim to get people to reconsider their current perspectives on Ethiopia and the African continent and the ways in which Africa is stereotypically portrayed. We seek to break down the German cliché of a hopeless continent in crisis on the one hand and the African cliché of endless victimization on the other. We counter these preconceptions by focusing on and highlighting Africa’s own initiative and the potential of Africa to offer a change of perspective. We use the example of the young shoe shiners, as they are referred to in Ethiopia, the Listros − which means to "make it shine" −, as a way of exemplifying this change of perspective. The Listros clean and polish dirty shoes, sometimes even tuning them into mirrors. With this "shining work" they earn the money to pay for their own tuition and education and thereby contribute to their families’ survival. Using the example of the Ethiopian Listros, we seek to initiate a debate about work and child labour. Child labour, which prevents children from getting an education and professional training, must be abolished. The work of the young Listros, however, makes education possible in the first place. Therefore, the non−profit LISTROS Association promotes the public perception and self−esteem of the Ethiopian shoe shiners, their working conditions and their opportunities in life.



All participants agree to the publication of their work for the purpose of documentation and public relations.



  • The submitted concepts may not have previously been submitted in any other competition.
  • With the submission of the concept and the participation form, LISTROS Association obtains the complete and unrestricted spatial, medial, and temporal rights of use for the concepts and their final realizations.
  • The artwork, which becomes part of the exhibition, is yielded free of charge to LISTROS Association for the advancement of the association. Possible demands for a compensation fee are entirely compensated through the prize, which includes flight, exhibition, and catalog.
  • The winners are entitled to use their concepts for private and, respectively, commercial purposes.
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    The decision of the jury is made with the exclusion of legal recourse. With his/her participation in the competition the artist accepts the here listed conditions of the competition. In addition the artist agrees to the publication of his/her work.



  • The concept must be submitted in written form, in the format A4, in two copies and in digital form by e-mail or as CD.
  • The concept may consist of a maximum of 5 pages written text (or a maximum of 4000 characters and must also contain sketches and drawings). (Demonstration materials: photographs with a maximum size of A4, CDs, DVDs (a maximum of 1 copy, recording may not exceed 15 minutes in duration).
  • The digital document must be presented in one of the following formats: pdf, .jpg, .tiff. The resolution should be at least 300dpi.
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    Proposals must be submitted by March 01, 2010 (postmarked) to:

    LISTROS e.V.
    Kurfürstenstrasse 33
    D - 10785 Berlin
    Phone: +49 (0)30 32 59 12 20
    Fax +49 (0)30 36 10 32 46
    Mail: mail@listros.de