Motivation
In the year 2001 the Mária Valéria bridge between Štúrovo (Slovakia) and Esztergom (Hungary) was reopened. During its history, this bridge was destroyed and unusable for a longer time than it was actually connecting the two towns. The bridge’s stubs kept the memory of the second World War alive for 57 years. This was the second destruction of the bridge built in 1895. Already between 1919 and 1926 it was out of service.
The rebuilt bridge deserves to be saved from further destruction by people. To this aim, mental protection is more important than physical protection. As long as the mental connection between people is intact, the bridge is not endangered.
Purpose
To support artists, scientists and personalities from other professions who work on projects which place emphasis on uniting, connecting, and bridging.
Support consists of making possible a 3 to 6 months’ sojourn in the “Bridge Guard” residence in Štúrovo, Slovakia, with the right to work in complete freedom on one’s own project, and with only minimal duties.
Qualifications
The post of Bridge Guard requires a person in whose work boundaries of countries or eras are bridged, mental, social, religious or political boundaries are crossed, different scientific fields are connected, or various artistic media are utilized.
The Bridge Guard works on topics such as integrating, bridging, connecting, uniting opposites, exploring and moving boundaries, encountering the unknown in others and within oneself.
Of course, groups of artists or scientists may be suitable as Bridge Guards, provided they do not consist of more than two people.
Initiators
The town of Štúrovo supplies the residence – living quarters and studio.
The cultural association “Štúrovo and Vicinity” takes on the responsibility for the management of the residence and provides local assistance to the Bridge Guards.
The initiator of the “Bridge Guard Residential Art / Science Centre” is the fund “Štefan and Viera Frühauf” of the fondation corymbo. It has furnished the residence, takes care of the selection of the resident Bridge Guards and provides financial support towards their living expenses.
Support
You are welcome to sponsor a Bridge Guard by pledging to pay for the cost of his or her stay. In appreciation of your sponsorship, “your” Bridge Guard will create a work especially for you to keep, and you will also receive a free copy of the Bridge Log as soon as it is in print.
You may find potential beneficiaries among the already appointed bridgeguards. If you just wish to support the project in general, please consider a donation to the account:
- Account: 232-491820.41J
- Bank: UBS, CH-5401 Baden
- Clearingnummer: 232
- Swift: UBSWCHZH80A
- IBAN: CH29 0023 2232 4918 2041 J
- Beneficiary: Karol Frühauf (Bridgeguard)
Residence
A residence is at the disposal of the Bridge Guard for his or her exclusive use. It contains a studio, a living and a bedroom and a room with the exhibition of works by the previous bridge guards. All rooms are simply furnished. A fully functional kitchenette and a bathroom are also available.
The same building also houses the town’s Museum of History and some offices of the town administration. The residence has its own separate entrance through the court of the house, which was built by a cereal merchant at the beginning of the 20th century.
Finances
The Bridge Guard has free use of the living accommodations and the studio. In addition, the basic charge for telephone and Internet access plus the amount of 50.- € for the usage thereof will be paid by the Support Group. Costs in excess of this amount will have to be charged to the Bridge Guard.
Furthermore, he or she will receive a monthly contribution towards living costs of 350.- €.
Travelling expenses and insurance costs cannot be reimbursed.
The result of the work is the property of the Bridge Guard. The Support Group of the residence can assist with the publication and the distribution of the work, in which case the Group will receive a modest share of the royalties.
Duties
Next to the work on his or her own project, the most important duty of the Bridge Guard consists of observing the bridge every day and of recording the observations in the Bridge Log.
In addition, the Bridge Guard is expected to
- work at least one afternoon with children in the public art school or from the children home
- be available for discussions with the high school students at least once
- to have at least one public appearance, an exhibition or performance
- communicate with the general public, thus building bridges to the people in the town
- to leave behind at least one piece of art that can be shown in the permanent exhibition in the bridge guard residency
Application
If you are interested in serving as Bridge Guard, you may apply at any time, giving the following particulars:
- brief curriculum vitae
- samples of previous work
- description of the project that you plan to work on during the residency, including its relevance to the aims of the Bridge Guard project
- the reason for the application and why your project should be carried out in Štúrovo / Slovakia
- requirements for special equipment
- desired length of stay
- preferred dates for beginning and end of stay.
The application can be delivered by surface or electronic mail (not larger than 2MB).
For more information click "Further official information" below.