Art competitions at the 1928 Summer Olympics

Jan Wils won the gold medal for the design of the Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam
Rugby by Jean Jacoby

Art competitions were held as part of the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Medals were awarded in five categories (architecture, literature, music, painting, and sculpture), for works inspired by sport-related themes.[1]

The art exhibition was held at the Stedelijk Museum from 12 June to 12 August, and displayed 1150 works of art from 18 different countries. Additionally, the literature competition attracted 40 entries from 10 countries, and the music competition had 22 entries from 9 countries.[2]

The art competitions at the 1928 Games was larger in scope than for previous Games. Instead of a single competition in each of the five artistic categories, awards were presented in multiple subcategories.[3] The judges of the music competition declined to award any medals in two of the three subcategories, and only presented a single bronze medal in the third.

Art competitions were part of the Olympic program from 1912 to 1948.[4] At a meeting of the International Olympic Committee in 1949, it was decided to hold art exhibitions instead, as it was judged illogical to permit professionals to compete in the art competitions but only amateurs were permitted to compete in sporting events.[5] Since 1952, a non-competitive art and cultural festival has been associated with each Game.[6]

  1. ^ "Art Competitions at the 1928 Summer Olympics". Olympedia. Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  2. ^ G. van Rossem, ed. (1928). The Ninth Olympiad. Amsterdam 1928. Official Report (PDF). Amsterdam: J. H. de Bussy. pp. 877–901. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 April 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
  3. ^ Wagner, Juergen. "Olympic Art Competition 1928 Amsterdam". Olympic Games Museum. Archived from the original on 1 May 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
  4. ^ Kramer, Bernhard (May 2004). "In Search of the Lost Champions of the Olympic Art Contests" (PDF). Journal of Olympic History. 12 (2): 29–34. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 25 March 2008.
  5. ^ Bolanaki, A. (June 1951). "Report on Art Exhibitions" (PDF). Bulletin du Comité International Olympique (27). Lausanne: International Olympic Committee: 34. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2008.
  6. ^ "Kurt Kohlstedt: Pentathlon of the Muses". 99% Invisible. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2021.