Transforming the Rijnsburger Tunnel

The Rijnsburger cycling tunnel is one of the most important tunnels that connects Leiden city centre and Leiden Bio Science Park (LBSP). Every day, the tunnel is used by hundreds of residents, visitors, students, and employees. In order to encourage people to continue using the tunnel as part of their commute, the municipality and artists from ARTvertisements would like to work with you to transform the tunnel into a work of art! The theme for the artworks is "the connection between knowledge and culture, between LBSP and the inner city". You don't need any prior experience to take part in this! 

What are we looking for?

What do you think of when you think of knowledge and culture, either in relation to LBSP or to Leiden city centre? We are looking for ideas from anyone who feels connected to either LBSP or Leiden city centre. You can submit your ideas in the form of a drawing, photo, or a poem. You can also choose to submit your ideas through another creative form, as there are a variety of creative forms that are allowed. The only condition is that you must include an image or description of knowledge and/or culture in relation to LBSP or Leiden city centre. The artists of ARTvertisements will incorporate the winning entries into the final design in order to express the connection between knowledge and culture, and between LBSP and the city centre.

Which designs will be selected?

In collaboration with the municipality, the artists from ARTvertisements will choose the most unique entries to incorporate into the tunnel's final design. As the tunnel's artwork will be up to 60 metres long, ARTvertisements will include multiple entries into the final design. Wouldn't it be cool to be able to see your own creative design featured in the Rijnsburger tunnel?

Who will design the final artwork?

The municipality has hired Leiden artists from ARTvertisements to design the entire artwork in the Rijnsburger tunnel. The artists will be paid for their work in accordance with the Fair Practice Code. They will incorporate the winning entries into their design for the final artwork, and this will create a large collage of entries in the form of a 60-metre long work of art.

Who can participate? 

Do you like to draw, photograph or write poetry? Anyone can enter the design contest! You don't need to have experience. We invite all Leiden residents to visualise their idea about the connection between the city centre and the LBSP.

Submit your design!

The submission deadline for your creative design is January 8th.

Photos, drawings, and other creative expressions should be submitted digitally as a jpeg, with the highest possible quality/resolution. This is because your entry may be printed very large. Importantly, make sure that you keep your original submission, as it may still be needed.

The file name should contain your own name (for example, "photo_JohnBouwman.jpg").

Once you have finalised your design idea, you can go to www.wetransfer.com and upload your file. Put the name of your design and your own name in the file's title, and then include your phone number in the message. You can send your entry to binnenstad@leiden.nl​.

We will keep in touch with entrants about the follow-up process.

Other important information

Chosen entries will be used by the municipality of Leiden and ARTvertisements (with adjustments in colour and design) for the final complete artwork that will be shown in the Rijnsburger tunnel. The artwork will be printed onto concrete foil, and this foil will be applied to the walls along the Rijnsburger tunnel cycle path. The final artwork will be able ot be temporarily seen in the tunnel, and final improvement measures are currently being worked out as part of the improvement of Leiden Central Junction. Eventually, the final design will be removed or painted over.

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the Rijnsburger tunnel art project or about the design competition itself, you can contact the municipality via binnenstad@leiden.nl.