The "HateFree Culture" project has announced an open contest for music performers, whether groups or solo artists, called "SLOŽ TO!" ("COMPOSE IT!") whose work reflects on themes such as coexistence; extreme nationalism; hate violence; intolerance for members of minorities, social groups and subcultures; prejudice; racism; respect; right-wing radicalism; or xenophobia. The composers of the winning piece will be provided with a backup team to produce a professional video.
The compositions should have the potential to raise these topics with sensitivity, to temper conflicts and tensions in society, and to contribute to good coexistence.
Those interested can send their recordings by 31 July to song@hatefree.cz.
Three chosen performers will be provided with the material and professional backup to record singles of the compositions submitted in a professional studio, and the winner will then produce a professional video to be premiered on TV Óčko in the Czech Republic this fall. The names of the winners, who will be chosen by a jury comprised of representatives of the contest organizer, TV Óčko, and selected established musical performers, will be announced during the second half of September.
The contest is part of a statewide project on "HateFree Culture", a response to the long-term growth in negative attitudes toward certain groups in the Czech Republic – foreigners, Muslims, Roma and other minorities – and the rising tolerance in Czech society for radical, violent solutions. The project is particularly active on social networking sites, where it endeavors to disseminate relevant information and to refute online hoaxes.
The project also runs the "HateFree Zone" brand, a network of venues that are free of hatred and violence, which includes as many as 70 places nationwide, including cafés, churches, community gardens, galleries, sports facilities and theaters. The song contest is not the first time the project has attempted to open up such burning topics through art.
At the start of this year, "HateFree Culture" announced a fine arts contest together with the DOX center in Prague. A total of 238 artists submitted more than 600 artworks.
The chosen artworks will be exhibited during the summer and fall in more than 20 regional towns of the Czech Republic, and DOX will produce an extensive exhibition on the subject in January 2016 in Prague. The "HateFree Culture" project is being implemented by the Czech Government Agency for Social Inclusion, which is a department of the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic.
The project is supported by a grant from Iceland, Lichtenstein and Norway. Its main media partner is Czech Television.
