Section for Visual Arts, Architecture and Design, Ministry of Culture
Every year in late Autumn the Section prepares an annual tender or call for projects of non-governmental public and private cultural organisations or public institutions, which are not otherwise subjects of a direct call by their founders (either state (Government of Slovenia) or municipalities). This annual public call also includes a tender for working stipends for distinguished artists.
The so-called programme public tender is published every four years and involves the most outstanding producers in various fields (fine arts, cartoons, design, etc) competing for a multiannual support contract. Tenders or calls aim to create better working conditions for visual artists as well as funding exhibitions or festivals and facilitating the international promotion of Slovene visual arts.
Annually there is an open call for visual art producers who plan to participate at selected art fairs (eg. Art Basel, Suisse Frieze, Art Fair London, FIAC Paris, Artissima Torino, Paris Photo, Art Forum Berlin, etc).
Another call is open for individual freelance artists who can compete for a one month residency at the studio in New York, Berlin, London or Vienna, the Ministry covering the accommodation (the rented studio) and travel costs.
The evaluation of programmes and projects in the Section for Visual Arts is made by two expert juries, each consisting four members, which are appointed by the Minister.
The Ministry of Culture funds participation of Slovenia at the Venice Biennials. The task of selecting a producer with a proposed artist that represents Slovenia at the Venice Biennial was assigned to Moderna galerija / Museum of Modern Art, Ljubljana plus Museum of Contemporary Art Metelkova, while the Museum for Architecture and Design is responsible to select a producer with a selected architectural studio to take part in the Architectural Biennial.