TEHRAN.- The First Tehran International Sculpture Symposium will be organized in February-March 2007 by Tehran Municipality´s Cultural- Art Organization with the objectives of: 1.Providing favorable conditions for the realization of artists? sculptural ideas; 2.Calling on artists to collaborate in the beautification of Tehran City´s living environment through creation of sculptures; 3. Helping to create conceptual sculptures related to selected themes; 4. Paying tribute and honoring artistic endeavors in Iran and the other parts of the world; 5.Introducing Tehran as an art-appreciating city by organizing the workshop of artists and setting up their sculptures in different spots in the city.

The Cultural-Art Organization of Tehran Municipality will be the proud organizer of the First International Sculpture Symposium in 2007. The symposium will offer artists in Iran and the other parts of the world the opportunity to put their talents and ideas at the service of beautifying Tehran, the capital city of the country with a 7000-year civilization.

Focusing on three central themes of science, art and spirituality, the International Sculpture Symposium welcomes new ideas by sculptors, and invites them to submit their designs before the deadline (November 21, 2006) to the symposium secretariat. The designs will be judged by an art council who will select 5 works by Iranian artists and 15 works by foreign sculptors and will invite the artists to execute their designs in a Tehran workshop.

A cash prize of $ 3000 will be awarded to all selected works which will be presented to the artists upon their arrival in Tehran, prior to the execution of their designs. The finished sculptures will be erected in Tehran city squares and public places.

Sight-seeing tours to historical monuments and architecture in Iran, including visits to the two cities of Isfahan and Shiraz, will be arranged for the artists during their stay in Iran. The tours will be organized in the belief that creating sculpture for a country requires an understanding of the country´s culture and art which can be gained only through direct experience of the cultural and artistic manifestations of the land. The trips can also be considered as memorable gifts to the artists who will be creating sculpture for the country.