Guideline for Beads Biennale 2024
ThemeBeauty, Love and Peace
Beads have been used since the beginning of time in trade and embellishment.
Techniques and beads have been developed in many cultures around the world.
In modern times beads have brought people together to create, communicate
and share in their love of an age old art.

AwardInternational Beads Biennale Hiroshima 2024 Grand Prize + JPY 300,000
Starman Award, among others to be announced.

Eligibility

The contest is open to persons of all levels of experience.

Category of Submissions

Submission Rules

Wearable Art: Entries must not exceed 30cm length by 30cm width by 35cm height.
Artwork: Sculptures, Wall Hangings or Free Standing Art must not exceed 50cm length by 50cm width by 50cm height.
All work must be original, a piece designed and submitted by a published designer will not be accepted.
All work must be copyright free.
Work that has been submitted to any contest will be disqualified. However, magazine, book and exhibition projects are allowed.
Designs must be made of at least 30% glass beads (Japanese, Czech, lamp work, dichroic).
Findings and embellishments may be made by materials of the designer's choice.
An entrant may submit any number of entries.

Other Considerations

Works must withstand normal handling. Great care will be given to submitted works, but the Organizers will not
be responsible for damage incurred from shipping or exhibition of the works.
If the art work is found to violate any rules, before or after the judging, it will be disqualified and the entry fee
will not be refunded.
In the event of any legal action taken for copyright infringement or plagiarism the designer will incur any costs associatedwith any legal proceedings and the Organizers of International Beads Biennale will not be held responsible.
International Beads Biennale reserves the right to use the winning pieces in publication, displays and print.

First Round of Judging(Photo screening)

There is no fee for this submission.
A completed entry form (available from our website) with a high resolution picture of the work attached must be sent
by mail or through the online application form (http://www.beadsbiennale.com/index_en.html).
Entries by mail must arrive by April 1st through 3rd 2024.
Entries online must be sent by 23:59, April 3rd 2024.
Entries submitted beyond this date will not be considered.
*If you apply from the website, there is no need to send documents by mail.
Please mail entry documents to: TOHO CO., LTD.
2-19-19, Misasa-Machi, Nishi-Ku, Hiroshima 7330003 Japan
Attention: International Beads Biennale 2024

Final Round of Judging

Participants will be notified by email by May 2024 and further instructions will be provided thereafter.
Entry Fee: JPY 12,000 per entry
JAPAN SEED BEADS ASSOCIATION certified members: JPY 9,000
Students (of universities, colleges…): JPY 5,000
For the payment of the application fee, PayPal is recommended.
A 4% currency conversion fee plus JPY 250 will be charged additionally.
There will be no return of entry fees for any reason whatsoever.

Shipping costs

The designer will be responsible for the cost of sending and having the work returned.
Insurance against loss or damage during shipping is strongly recommended.

Panel of Judges

Iwao Yamanaka – President and CEO of TOHO CO., LTD.
Mitsuharu Hirose – Knitting Designer
Ryoko Takahashi – Part-time lecturer at Bunka Gakuen University and Wayō Women's University
Mutsumi Daikuhara – Full-time lecturer at Bunka Fashion CollegeKimie Suto – Bead Artist/TOHO Beads Advanced Designer(Listed in random order, titles omitted)

Exhibition

Awarded works will be exhibited in TOKYO in July 2024, and in HIROSHIMA in September 2024.

Awards Ceremony

To be held in November 2024 in Hiroshima (tentative schedule).
Travel expenses are not included.