Organizer Information
The Free State of Bavaria, represented by the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labour and Social Affairs and the Nuremberg State Building Authority, is commissioning an art-in-architecture project for the new Zentrum Bayern Familie und Soziales (ZBFS) Mittelfranken in Nuremberg. The artistic advice and coordination for the competition are provided by the BBK Landesverband Bayern e.V., the Bavarian regional association of the Federal Association of Visual Artists. The ZBFS is a central Bavarian state authority responsible for administering numerous social benefits and services.
Title & Description
Art in Architecture Competition: New building of the Zentrum Bayern Familie und Soziales in Nuremberg
The Art in Architecture Competition: New Building of the Zentrum Bayern Familie und Soziales in Nuremberg seeks a permanent artistic work for the central inner courtyard of the ZBFS complex at Roonstraße 22. The project forms part of the broader architectural ensemble at the corner of Roonstraße and Bärenschanzstraße, which includes the ZBFS building, a newly constructed multi-storey car park and three existing buildings.
The courtyard is intended to become a place for encounter, reflection and quality of stay. Artists are therefore expected to propose an artwork that responds meaningfully to the architectural and spatial context and contributes to the atmosphere and identity of the site. The competition is a single-phase invited art-in-architecture competition preceded by an open application and pre-selection process.
Categories
- Art in Architecture
- Public Art
- Visual Art
- Site-Specific Art
- Installation Art
- Sculpture / Three-Dimensional Art
- Other artistic practices appropriate to the outdoor architectural context
The call does not prescribe a specific artistic medium. Applicants should demonstrate through digital work samples that their artistic practice is relevant to the stated task.
Eligibility
The opportunity is open to professional artists and artist groups. Other professional sectors are not eligible. Professional status must be demonstrated, for example through graduation from a state art college or membership in a professional artists' association.
The announcement states that applicants must be citizens of the European Union, while the detailed application section describes the eligible area as the European Economic Area (EEA). Applicants should therefore consult the official announcement and competition documents carefully if their nationality is within the EEA but outside the EU.
Program Benefits & Awards
Eight artists or artist groups will be selected by a pre-selection committee to participate in the realization competition. Each selected participant receives a €3,000 gross fee for developing their competition design.
A jury will evaluate the anonymized proposals and recommend one design for realization. A total gross realization budget of €250,000 is available for the commissioned art-in-architecture project. The selected artists will also have an opportunity to visit the site during the on-site colloquium.
No expense allowance is provided during the initial application phase.
Application Fee
None
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- 5 August 2026: Deadline for written enquiries
- 9 September 2026, 12:00 noon: Application deadline
- 23 September 2026: Selection committee
- 29 September 2026: Competition documents sent to selected participants
- 29 September 2026–14 January 2027: Competition working period
- 13 October 2026: On-site colloquium
- 14 January 2027, 4:00 p.m.: Competition submission deadline
- 18 February 2027: Jury
- 19 February 2027: Competition results announced
- February/March 2027: Exhibition of competition entries
- Until June 2028: Scheduled realization period
Location
Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany
Additional Details
Selected artists must respond specifically to the architectural and spatial characteristics of the courtyard. Applicants should carefully review the official competition announcement, application forms and published question-and-answer protocol before submitting. If no confirmation email is received within 24 hours of application, applicants are instructed to contact KaB@bbk-bayern.de.