Take part in the 2021 Cheongju International Craft Competition

Jiang Shaoqing, China
Winner of the 2019 edition: Jiang Shaoqing, China
(Image credit: press)

South Korea’s Cheongju Craft Biennale is now accepting applications for its 2021 Cheongju International Craft Competition (CICC), which aims to discover outstanding new craft artists and talents from around the world. Since its inception in 1999, the CICC has grown into a renowned worldwide event, awarding prizes to 1,700 works from 47 different countries.

Running from 1-31 May 2021 under the guidance of Cheongju mayor Han Beum-Deuk, the competition will be divided into two categories: the Craft Competition will consider completed craft works from global talents of all ages, while the Craft City Lab Competition will focus on ideas, proposals and research for developing the Culture Factory, a former tobacco processing plant that has been turned into a cultural space which hosts the Cheongju Craft Biennale. 

There are several prizes to be won, totalling more than $129,000. The winning entries will be exhibited during the Biennale, which is held this year from 8 September 2021 to 17 October 2021, under the theme of ‘Tools for Conviviality’. 

Poster

(Image credit: press)

How to enter

Craft Competition
This category is open to all genres of craft work reflecting trends in contemporary art/crafts or looking to crafts conveying values of the future… or a combination of both. One work per individual or team is to be submitted. Works that have been created from 2018 to 2021 may be entered. The online submission page can be found on the official website of the Cheongju Craft Biennale. Competition entries must first pass an online screening by CICC judges before moving on to the second stage of evaluation. The winners and final results will be announced in August 2021.

Craft City Lab Competition
Aiming to develop Cheongju Craft Biennale’s base, the Culture Factory, into a symbolic zone to showcase Cheongju’s links to crafts and craftsmanship, the Craft City Lab Competition seeks written ideas, concepts and plans for entry. One individual or team can apply to this competition category by visiting the official website of the Cheongju Craft Biennale.

Competition entries must first pass an online screening by CICC judges before moving on to the second stage of evaluation. The final results will be announced in August 2021.

Both categories have no age restrictions and are open to talent of all nationalities. The Grand Prize for the Craft Competition is $44,000. The Grand Prize for the Craft City Lab is $8,800. Other hierarchical prizes will be awarded with trophies and certificates.

The Organizing Committee has uploaded an online briefing video on its official Youtube channel, available in Korean and English versions.

Application deadline: 31 May 2021

Further details can be found on the official website of the Cheongju Craft Biennale or by emailing ccbcompetition2019@gmail.com.