Call for applications: Beethoven Pastoral Project 2020

Dancers, writers, designers, filmmakers and musicians from the electro and hip hop scenes are also encouraged to register. The event will celebrate the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven's (1770-1827) birthday. It will also promote the UN's sustainable development goals and the Paris climate accord through a performance on World Environment Day 2020.

The event will take place in Bonn, Germany, on 5 June 2020.

The artist’s concept should be about environmental protection and sustainable development for a better world.

The Beethoven Pastoral Project is divided into two phases:

• Pastoral Network: At this phase, artists should upload a video and corresponding statement on the Beethoven Pastoral Project website from 5 June 2018.
• Pastoral Day – UN World Environment Day 2020: This will conclude the project with artists performing Beethoven's 'Symphony No 6' live.

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“We will check the registrations and confirm them accordingly," Beethoven Pastoral Project organiser Holger Jan Schmidt told Music In Africa.

"The participation is fulfilled when the artist, ensemble or orchestra upload their video showing their engagement with the pastoral and the subject.” 

Schmidt said everyone who agreed with the project's ideas and aims was free to apply. “This can be an orchestra, solo artist, performer, filmmaker, amateur. The project lives from the participants' creativity and art. The common ground is the commitment to the preservation of nature and our environment."

Schmidt said the project was based on the voluntary engagement of artists and participants around the world. He said the project would not cover any expenses incurred by artists. "And for clarity purposes, everybody creates their own performance and event in their respective environment and setting,” he said.

Registration process

• Register on the homepage.
• Engage with the Pastoral by creating your pastoral.
• Upload your video and statement on the homepage of the Beethoven Pastoral Project website from 5 June 2018 until 5 June 2020.
• Create a video by merging and visualising your activities.

The Symphony No 6, also known as the Pastoral Symphony, is a symphony composed by Beethoven and completed in 1808. One of Beethoven's few works containing explicitly programmatic content, the symphony was first performed in the Theater an der Wien on 22 December 1808 during a four-hour concert.

For more information about this call, please visit the Beethoven Pastoral Project official website.