Early next year, there will apparently be an interesting two stage ice competition in Russia. Competitors will complete a sculpture in Moscow, then travel to St. Petersburg and complete a sculpture there. I’ve posted the information that I was sent below. Questions should be directed to Valery Gromov at info@icestudio.ru and the relevant website is at www.icestudio.ru. Here’s the info, as sent to me, with some slight formatting changes and a note:

Russian  Grand Prix in Ice Sculpturing

January 3-12, 2010

Moscow – St.Petersburg, Russia

                                            Vijgovey-2010                                                                                                          Christmas Symphony 2010

   Two traditional Russian ice festivals held in Moscow and St.Petersburg will be united in one project in 2010. They are the Moscow International Vijgovey Contest and the theatre-contest called the Christmas Symphony in St.Petersburg. Both capitals contributed greatly to the establishment and development of the snow and ice creative work in Russia. The construction of the Ice Palace to the design of the chief city architect Pyotr Eropkin in St.Petersburg in 1740 under governing of Empress Anna Ioannovna actually started the ice creative activity as art. At the end of the last century the ice Vijgovey festivals held in Moscow initiated the current establishment and development of the ice creative work in Russia.

PRINCIPLES OF HOLDING THE

RUSSIAN GRAN-PRIX IN ICE SCULPTING

1. GENERAL:

    Such united contest is going to be held for the first time. The main mission of the contest is to demonstrate the best work of the Russian and foreign ice sculptors and to popularize snow and ice creative activities in Russia.

    The distinctive feature of the contest is to demonstrate the individual craftsmanship of the sculptors. Ten competitors will be chosen by the organizers to take part in the contest – five Russian and five foreign participants.

   The contest will be held in two stages. 

The first stage called Vijgovey will take place in Moscow  on January 3 to 8, 2010.

The second stage will be organized in St.Petersburg on January 9 to11, 2010. It is called the Christmas Symphony theater-contest.  

The main award – Russia Grand Prix – will be awarded due to the results of both festivals.

These two competitions will be held according to different regulations.

Moscow. On January 4 to 7, 2010.  Ice festivals Vijgovey. The competitors  can use  20 standard (1.0 х 0,5 х 0,25 м) ice block.  The theme of festival is free.

Saint-Petersburg. On January 10 to 11, 2010. the competitors take part on 24-hour ice marathon Christmas Symphony. They can use  10 standard (1.0 х 0,5 х 0,25 м) ice block or 2 ice block (1.0м х 1.0м х 0,4м ).  The theme of festival is free.

In very short period of 24 hours the sculptors should present their ice compositions accompanied with sounds and light to the audience and adjudicators judgment. The professional board of judges formed from the organizers of the similar contests and professional ice engravers who don’t participate in this competition will evaluate the sculptures of the competitors.

     Each participant should present musical illustration and light illumination of the ice composition. Music should be submitted to the organizers the day before the contest and the organizers should provide the participants with the illumination equipment. 

     NB!

1. 1.Due to unstable winter weather in Moscow and St.Petersburg the competitors have to be ready to work at the temperatures above 0. The contest will take place under any weather conditions.
   

2. 2.The ice compositions presented earlier in other contests are not allowed.
   

NOTE: Snow elements made from snow got after the mechanical treatment of provided ice are appreciated.

APPEARANCE CONDITIONS:

2.1.  The sculptors who decide to participate not later than 01.10.09 (note the international date format; it’s November 1, 2009) should send their applications to the organization center the following documents:

       - the participant’s application form (See Appendix No.1);

       - the future sculpture sketch,

       - CV;

       - the passport copy;

       - the competitor’s photo.

* Note: the organizers leave the right to select the participants.

The number of teams will be 10.

2.2. The competitors selected will be formally invited by the team or organizers

TEAMS:

Number of members: one ice sculptor.

      Number of teams is 10.

CONTEST PROGRAM:

January 3: arrival and accommodation arrangement in Moscow;

January 4, 11.00 a.m.: opening the Moscow contest stage;

    from 12.00 to 15.00:  professional competition beginning;

January 5, from 16.00 to 16.30: work of the professional judges board;

    from 16.30 to 7.00: prizes awarding;;

    from 20.00 to 24.00:  awarding the prize of Spectators’ Sympathy and banquet;

January 8: special cultural program in Moscow; 

January 8-9: transit to St.Petersburg;

January 9 : arrival and accommodation arrangement in St.Petersburg;

January 9, from 10.00:   special cultural program in St.Petersburg; 

January 10, 11.00 a.m.: children’s competition;

    from 14.00 to 15.00: finishing the children’s competition work and closing ceremony;

    from 16.00: professional competition beginning;

January 11, 16.00 p.m.: work finishing;

    from 16.00 to 16.30: work of professional judges board;

    from 16.30 to 17.00: St.Petersburg stage prizes awarding;.  

    from 17.00 to 17.30: Russian Grand Prix awarding;

    from 20.00 to 24.00: awarding the prize of Spectators’ Sympathy and  banquet;

January 12: participants’ departure.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT:

The team will be provided with a ladder, a water tank, a spade and a set of illumination equipment. The rest tools and equipment should be brought by the participants themselves. The electric equipment is supplied with 220 V, 50 Hz.

PRECAUTIONS:

Each competitor should have his personal medical insurance and he is responsible for taking all safety precautions.

BOARD OF JUDGES:

The representatives of the similar organization teams of the local and foreign contests of the same kind and some professional ice sculptors who don’t participate in the competition will be included into the board of judges. The audience will award their Prize of Sympathy. .

PRIZES AND AWARDS:

Russia Grand Prix is US $3000.

Moscow Vijgovey main prize is US $1000.

St.Petersburg Christmas Symphony main prize is US $1000.

Sympathy Prize will be provided by our sponsors

Special sponsors’ prizes are as follows:

- for illumination solutions;

- for musical  illustration..

Each participant will get the appearance fee of US $ 200, the participants diploma and presents.

ORGANISERS PROVISIONS:

- meeting the participants and seeing them off;

- professional interpreters, if necessary;

- accommodation in the double rooms in the 4 to 5-star hotels;

- three meals a day;

- cultural program in Moscow and St.Petersburg;

- technical support of the carving process.

Note: Transport fares are at the participants’ expense.

         Transfer from Moscow to St.Petersburg and back is at the organizers’ expense.

CONTEST ORGANIZERS:

The Vyugovey Cultural Center (Moscow),

The Russian Snow, Ice and Sand Sculptors Community) Moscow),

The Ice Studio Art Center (St.Petersburg),

The International MASTEROK Ice and Sand Creation Developing Center  Independent Non-commercial Organization (St.Petersburg).

Organizing team address:

  Russia  195043, St.Petersburg, 

  25 Kovalyovskaya Str.,Of. 33

        tel:        + 7 (812) 929-02-60, +7 (812) 994-16-33

        fax:       +7 (812) 527-93-77

        mail:      HYPERLINK "mailto:info@icestudio.ru" info@icestudio.ru

        www:    icestudio.ru

        Contacts: Mr.Valery Gromov and Mrs. Svetlana  Mikheeva.                                           

                                                                                             APPENDIX No 1

RUSSIA GRAND PRIX

IN ICE SCULPTURE

January 3 to12, 2010

Moscow & St.Petersburg

APPLICATION FOR COMPETITION

Country _____________________________________________________________________

Surname, given names _________________________________________________________

Gender______________________________________________________________________

Address_____________________________________________________________________

Telephone number_____________________________________________________________

Fax_________________________________________________________________________

E-mail_______________________________________________________________________

CV (competitive experience)_____________________________________________________

This application form should be submitted to the organization team not later than 15.10.2009.

Contest organization team:

  Russia  195043, St.Petersburg, 

  25 Kovalyovskaya Str., of. 33

        tel:        + 7 (812) 929-02-60, +7 (812) 994-16-33

        fax:       +7 (812) 527-93-77

        mail:      HYPERLINK "mailto:info@icestudio.ru" info@icestudio.ru

        www:    icestudio.ru