Author: Ekaterina Vekova

BE OPEN Announces Its First Video Open Call About Design and Nature

BE OPEN Announces Its First Video Open Call About Design and Nature

Ekaterina Vekova

BE OPEN is launching its next global open call for visual responses that address the interrelation between design and nature. Entries will explore the creative transformation of the world around us, as it interacts with nature in the most general sense. The aim is to examine the ways in which design and nature can intertwine, complement and supplement each other, create opposition or harmony, or even make the perfect match.

BE OPEN’s official partner for this project is the Herbarium bar in Austria. Herbarium has pledged EUR 1,000 in prize money, to be awarded to the winner of the open call.

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BE OPEN Supports a New Educational Initiative Launched by the Mayor of London

BE OPEN Supports a New Educational Initiative Launched by the Mayor of London

Ekaterina Vekova

London is set to become a giant classroom for the capital’s primary school children, thanks to a major new initiative being launched by the Mayor, Sadiq Khan and supported by Elena Baturina’s BE OPEN Foundation.

More than 1,800 primary schools across all 33 London boroughs will have the opportunity to bring learning to life, inspired by London’s people, places and heritage, in everything from history and poetry to science and art as part of the new ‘Going Underground’ unit on the London Curriculum. This is the first time primary school pupils in the capital will have access to the Mayor’s London Curriculum, which has only been available to secondary school pupils.

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BE OPEN’s New Programme with the Mayor’s Fund for London and the Greater London Authority

BE OPEN’s New Programme with the Mayor’s Fund for London and the Greater London Authority

Ekaterina Vekova

The international creative think-tank BE OPEN Foundation continues to support cutting-edge educational initiatives in London. Partnering with the Mayor’s Fund for London and the Greater London Authority, the Foundation will be lending its expertise and support to ‘London Curriculum’ – a unique and ambitious project, set to revitalize teaching and learning across the city.

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‘Discovery in a Week’, a New Initiative by Noosphere Foundation, Mayor’s Fund for London and BE OPEN

‘Discovery in a Week’, a New Initiative by Noosphere Foundation, Mayor’s Fund for London and BE OPEN

Ekaterina Vekova


The initiative is supported by the BE OPEN foundation. Its aim is to introduce young people from disadvantaged areas of London to the fascinating world of astronomy. The project ‘Discovery within a Week’ brings together PHD astronomy students from UCL’s Physics and Astronomy department to mentor secondary school pupils and guide them through the materials and technology.

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Caroline Konarkowska From New Zealand Wins the Web Choice Prize in BE OPEN Young Talent Award

Caroline Konarkowska From New Zealand Wins the Web Choice Prize in BE OPEN Young Talent Award

Ekaterina Vekova
Graphic designer Caroline Konarkowska from Auckland, New Zealand became the most popular candidate for the Web Choice Prize in this year’s BE OPEN YOUNG TALENT AWARD online voting. BE OPEN’s Facebook page visitors had the chance to pick their favourite designer of the ten contestants who made it to the top-10 shortlist picked by the jury. Way ahead of her competitors, Caroline got the most reactions to her portfolio and won the €2000 prize from BE OPEN.
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BE OPEN Young Talent Award Goes to Chile

BE OPEN Young Talent Award Goes to Chile

Ekaterina Vekova

The current tour of the global design award established by BE OPEN Foundation has come to its completion – on April 28th, at the amazing Nottingham Castle Museum and Art Gallery BE OPEN announced and awarded the main winner of YOUNG TALENT AWARD as well as the winner in the ‘Founder’s choice’ category.

The main prize of 16 000 Euro was awarded to the Otros Perez design studio based in Santiago de Chile. Founded and headed by Catalina and Jeronimo Perez the studio creates visual identities, graphics, communication strategies, websites, etc. The young designers have already cooperated with the Chilean Government, a number of Chilean universities and public organizations.

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BE OPEN Young Talent Award: Finalists and Awarding Ceremony

BE OPEN Young Talent Award: Finalists and Awarding Ceremony

Ekaterina Vekova

The jury of BE OPEN YOUNG TALENT AWARD has selected 10 candidates to enter the short-list of finalists. The main winner as well as the Founder’s choice winner will be announced at an awarding ceremony in Nottingham, UK, on April 28th, at the annual Cumulus conference. The online voting for the web choice winner will continue till May 15th.

The selected finalists are Sofia Drum Bento (USA), Jacque Kemp (USA), Natalie Mcqueen (USA), Catalina Perez (Chile), The Clocksmiths (Italy), Jenifer Wisler (USA), Pablo Gonzalez (Chile), Caroline Konarkowska (New Zealand), Passport Design Bureau (UK) and QQO (Italy).

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BE OPEN Young Talent Award New Tour: the Jury

BE OPEN Young Talent Award New Tour: the Jury

Ekaterina Vekova

The new tour of YOUNG TALENT AWARD – a grant by BE OPEN to support young professionals – presents the international jury, whose task will be to define the winner of a 16,000 Euro prize.

The award is a grant to support young designers’ day-to-day living expenses throughout a year, helping them develop their work at this critical early stage in their career. Described as an ‘incubator for young talent’, seeking out designers who have only recently completed their studies and are making their first steps in a design career, the award will allow the winner to continue working at their own pace, experiment with both practical and conceptual projects.

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BE OPEN Foundation and Its Founder Elena Baturina Support London Employment Programme ‘Сreativity Works’

BE OPEN Foundation and Its Founder Elena Baturina Support London Employment Programme ‘Сreativity Works’

Ekaterina Vekova

BE OPEN Foundation has joined forces with the Mayor’s Fund for London to help young unemployed Londoners play a greater part in the future of the capital – through the arts. Elena Baturina has supported the Mayor’s Fund for London initiative, providing a major boost to 17-24 year-olds across the city through arts-based employability programme Creativity Works.

Mayor of London Boris Johnson, Patron of the Mayor’s Fund for London, said: “To ensure London’s status as the indisputable global capital of culture and creativity, it is vital that young Londoners are equipped with the skills they need to enter this most dynamic of sectors. Creativity Works is an excellent way for youngsters to bridge the gap between their artistic talent and the immense opportunities available to them in our city, and having BE OPEN Foundation on board will help to make a real difference. It is fantastic to have supporters like this backing the Mayor’s Fund for London and I hope other individuals and organisations will get on board to help this great cause.”

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