40 years on from the first clinical diagnosis of AIDS in Ireland, the Irish government has issued a call out to artists interested in creating a national HIV/AIDS memorial monument. The aim of the piece will be “to remember those who have died and mark their lives and contribution to society, while also showing solidarity with those living with and affected by HIV today”.

A committee chaired by the Department of the Taoiseach has been established to oversee the design and commissioning of the monument. Meanwhile, the Office of Public Works (OPW) on behalf of the aforementioned committee is responsible for the organisation and administration of the competition which launched on June 1.

Currently in stage one, the competition is now looking for expressions of interest from artists aged 18 and over. It is open to individuals and project teams, and to professional and non-professional applicants. The nature of the monument and the medium and format through which it is to be delivered is completely up to the creator.

Interested parties must apply (free of charge) by July 14, and a Jury will then select a maximum of ten applicants to be shortlisted to proceed to the second stage of the process.

CALLING ALL ARTISTS

Open competition for the design of a HIV/AIDS NATIONAL MONUMENT

All the information re the proposal and how to submit are available to download here:https://t.co/YzqWw4IFdj

Closing date for expressions of interest is July 14 pic.twitter.com/wybcpB7uiB

— Dr Panti Bliss-Cabrera (@PantiBliss) June 1, 2022

In stage two, the competitors will be asked to develop their submission into a detailed proposal. Each applicant in this stage will be paid €1,000 including VAT on receipt of their submission, and the Jury will then award one competitor the contract.

According to the brief, the competition is seeking “the most ambitious, creative, inclusive and exceptional proposal” to commission. The monument should represent hope out of sadness and draw from the different phases of the epidemic. It should create awareness of HIV/AIDS, and be representative of those affected including members of the LGBTQ+ community, drug users and more. It should be a timeless piece that will benefit future generations, and it must be accessible as an occasion of experience for those wishing to visit the space. The site proposed for the monument is the People’s Gardens in the Phoenix Park.

For full information on the national HIV/AIDS monument competition and the submission process, click here, and good luck to all those who enter!