Aqua, Ambra, Aquila – Jewellery Competition

Kotka Maritime Festival International Jewelry Competition 2024

The first part of the competition has now ended and the Jury has selected the following artists to the finals and to participate in the finalist’s exhibition in Ruuma gallery at the Vellamo Maritime Center.

Finalists 2024

Anneli Aaltonen Finland
Elli Hukka Finland
Yael Kaduri Israel
Chaoqun Li China
Reet Salonen Finland
Johannes Schweighofer Austria
Astari G. Swatantri Finland
Kaisu Tullinen Finland
Julie Usel Switzerland
Jana Veselá Czech Republic


”The sea giveth, the sea taketh”

The city of Kotka, the Maritime Centre Vellamo and the Kotka Maritime festival organize a sea-themed jewelry competition in cooperation with the Finnish Goldsmiths’ Association and the Finnish Clock and Jewelry Museum.

The purpose is to study the message the sea tells us and interpret it in the form of jewelry. The topic can be approached from many different angles. A material, element, phenomenon, or concept can be the starting point when we look for a new kind of use suitable for modern times through the means of jewelry design and jewelry art. Emphasis will be put on sustainability. The use of recycled and ethically produced raw materials is recommended.

The competition has two stages. In the first phase, the planning phase, the participants present their plans as pictures. In the second stage the ten, by the jury, chosen finalists complete their plans into finished pieces of jewelry at their own expense.

An exhibition of the finalists works will be organized in the Maritime Centre Vellamo’s Ruuma gallery starting on Thursday 27th of June 2024 and continuing until Sunday 28th of July 2024. The exhibition features the jewelry made by the finalists. The goal is that the competition works can also be exhibited in other exhibitions during the years 2024 / 25.

In the evaluation, attention is paid to the uniqueness of the proposals, the artistry, the method of implementation and how the subject of the competition has been seen in a new way in the jewelry context.

The competition is a general jewelry design competition open to everyone. In addition to Finland, the competition is marketed especially in Kotka’s twin cities in Lithuania, Poland, and Estonia. The languages ​​of the competition are Finnish and English.

”The sea giveth, the sea taketh”

The sea, this element so important to humanity, has served us as a passage connecting nations and cultures, a source of nourishment, a refresher of the mind, a bringer of riches and a source of inspiration. The sea has been generous and useful, but it has also taken its toll. We want to hear and see what story the sea is telling you through jewelry. Is its beauty and the possibilities as a means of connecting people and cultures and raw materials it offers your source of inspiration? Is it the various materials the sea provides or is its stark power and unforgiveness the message you’re telling? We are looking for these stories told by the sea in the form of jewelry.

Competition rules:

The competition is subject to the competition rules mentioned in this document. Possible conflict situations are resolved based on the rules.

1. Participants

The competition is open to everyone. In the final stage, the competition plans must be realized as jewelry at artist´s own expense and within the competition schedule.

2. Jewelry

The aim of the competition is to design and manufacture jewelry inspired by the theme ”The sea giveth, the sea taketh”. In the competition work, the material used is free of choice.You can participate in the competition with a maximum of three proposals. However, an individual proposal can include an entire jewelry collection, with, for example, a necklace and earrings, etc.

3. Competition entries

The competition has two phases.

1. The design phase starts 31st of January 2024 and ends 5th of April 2024. In the design phase, participants present their jewelry ideas as A4-sized printouts, max. 3 pieces per proposal. It can be a drawing, a photograph, or a 3D-rendered image. The jewelry idea should be clearly stated in the plan. You can participate in the competition with a maximum of three proposals. However, an individual proposal may contain a jewelry collection, which includes, for example, a necklace and earrings, etc.
The proposal is marked with a name tag, and the proposal is accompanied by a sealed envelope with the same name tag, containing the artist’s name and contact information. The finalists of the competition will be selected after the end of the first competition phase. The jury will decide the finalists by 22nd of April 2024, after which the finalists will be notified and the final, phase of the competition will begin.

2. The final phase starts on 23rd of April 2024 and ends on 3rd of June 2024. Those invited to the final stage will produce their jewelry according to the plan at their own expense, either from selected genuine materials or from synthetic materials. Choice of material is free. The final phase ends on 3rd of June 2024. Participants will be informed of their placement before the prizes are awarded. The prize award ceremony will take place at the Ruuma gallery in Kotka at the Maritime Centre Vellamo on Wednesday. 26th of June where the final works are displayed in the exhibition until 28th of July 2024.

4. Designation of competition proposals and contact information

Competition proposals must be marked with a name tag and must be accompanied by a sealed envelope with the same tag, which contains the artist’s contact information (name, address, phone number and email address)

5. Other rules

Competition proposals must not have been previously published. If the subject of the competition proposal uses copyrighted works or their parts, the competition proposal must be accompanied by an explanation of the origin of the works used and a certificate that the use of the work is authorized and in this case the artist of the competition proposal is responsible for any copyright fees. By participating in the competition, you agree that the images from the design phase will be available in the competition exhibitions. The artists whose proposals are selected for the final commit to making the jewelry for the exhibition held at the Maritim Centre Vellamo. In addition, we reserve the right to present final works also in other competition exhibitions during the years 2024 / 25. The works selected for the final may not be published before the exhibition opens. The rights related to the proposal remain with the artist. By participating in the competition, the submitter of the proposal simultaneously accepts the regulations of this competition and agrees that the competition proposals will be presented in future competition exhibitions.

6. Competition prizes

The following prizes are awarded in the competition: – First prize: 1,000 € voucher for NSG web shop.− Second prize: 500 € voucher for NSG web shop.− Third prize: 200 € voucher for NSG web shop.

The voucher is good for all goods at our web shop, precious metals excluded.
The prizes are sponsored by NSG

The award jury of the competition chooses the winners of the competition. The prize jury can, by its unanimous decision, distribute the prize amount differently. Prize amounts are taxable income for the recipients.

7. Competition time and delivery address of the competition works

The competition period for the design phase ends on Friday 5th of April 2024, at 16:00, by which time the competition proposals must be submitted to the office of the Finnish Goldsmiths’ Association, Revontulentie 8 C, 02100 Espoo, Finland. The works can be delivered either by post or brought to the office. • The final phase ends on 3rd of June 2024, at 4 p.m., by which time the completed works selected to the finals and exhibition must be submitted to the office of the Finnish Goldsmiths’ Association at Revontulentie 8 C, 02100 Espoo, Finland. The artists of the works selected for the final stage have been notified earlier. The works can be delivered either by post or brought to the office as agreed.

8. Competition jury

The following people make up the award jury:

– Terhi Pietikäinen, Museum director, Kymenlaakso museum.

– Mirkka Kallio, Assistant, Kymenlaakso museum.

– Harri Syrjänen, Master goldsmith.

– Ritva Kara, Jewellery artist.

Henrik Kihlman, executive director of the Finnish Goldsmiths’ Association, acts as the secretary of the jury.

9. Publication of results

After the first stage of the competition has been resolved, the result will be announced, and the entries selected for the final will be implemented at the participant’s own expense. The ten finalists of the planning phase will be announced on 25th of April 2024. The winners of the competition will be announced at the award ceremony on 26th of June 2024. Awardees and other participants will be informed of their placement before the awards are given.

10. Return of competition proposals

The competition proposals can be picked up from the office of the Finnish Goldsmiths’ Association from 25th of April to 25th of May 2024. Agree on the return toimisto@suomenkultaseppienliitto.fi. Contest proposals can also be returned by cash on delivery at the contest participant’s own expense. Agree on the return toimisto@suomenkultaseppienliitto.fiIf the proposals have not been picked up or their return has been agreed upon by 25th of May 2024, they will be destroyed by the competition organizer. Regarding the jewelry of the finalists, the return will be agreed separately.

11. Additional information:

Finnish Goldsmiths’ Association

executive director Henrik Kihlman

toimisto@suomenkultaseppienliitto.fi

tel.+358 40 775 1085

Pääyhteistyökumppanit 2024

Menossa mukana vuonna 2024