Nokia partners with Gen Art to promote emerging talent in fashion, film and visual arts

Winners in the Gen Art Film Festival will be offered the opportunity to participate in the Nokia Film Connection contest. Contestants will submit a copy of their film along with a concept and budget, and one filmmaker will be selected by a panel of judges to produce a Nokia Film Connection micro-short film. The finished film will illustrate Nokia's products and how they connect people to information, ideas and experiences. Additionally, Nokia continues to encourage young designers by inviting them to compete in the Phonewear Design Search. Designers will submit one accessory design for any of Nokia's wireless phones by August 1, 2000 for a chance to have their phone accessory design featured at Gen Art's Fresh Faces in Fashion 2000 show in September. Each phone accessory design will compete for a $2,500 award from Nokia with an opportunity to have a limited edition of the design produced and sold on the Nokia web site.

Nokia's partnership with Gen Art matches fashionable technology with up-and-coming designers. Each year, Gen Art gives culturally savvy audiences access to its young talent through the production of fashion shows, film festivals, art exhibitions and other events. In a similar fashion, Nokia's industry leading technology products have influenced the design of personal communications devices from shape to color and ease of use, most recently as the "Design of the Decade" award winner from IDSA (Industrial Designers Society of America) and "Business Week" magazine. Additionally, for the past three years, Nokia's Design Center in California has, sponsored design explorations at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, a renowned leader in teaching and communication arts. Nokia's Design team chose the best examples from the Art Center work that now travels around the world as an exhibit of future technology concepts.

"Art is mankind's most enduring form of communication. Through nurturing art and design and providing an inspiring forum for the display of talents, our cooperation with Gen Art aims to further promote the growth of the creative arts across the United States," said Rich Geruson, senior vice president, USA sales & marketing, Nokia Mobile Phones.

"Artistic expression mirrors Nokia's philosophy by transcending national, cultural, racial and age boundaries by connecting all in a shared language of beauty, inspiration and creativity. It is our hope that the Gen Art forum encourages emerging artists to push their own boundaries, communicate their vision and through art, challenge our perceptions and expectations," added Geruson.

"Gen Art is very excited about Nokia's commitment to emerging talent and to our 2000 programs," said Ian Gerard, executive director and founder of Gen Art. "In addition to funding these important programs, Nokia is providing its creativity and resources to generate additional opportunities for exposure for the next generation of talent."

Nokia supports development of art and design globally. Recently, Nokia held its inaugural Arts Awards - Asia Pacific 2000, hailed as one of the most comprehensive region-wide arts competition in Asia Pacific. Based on the theme "Visions of Your Future", Nokia invited students aged between 18 - 25 years to share their creative vision by participating in the event focused on two-dimensional art. In keeping with Nokia's core brand values, this very well received effort aimed to celebrate innovation, artistic vision and the creative human spirit amongst youth by offering them a unique opportunity to share their inspired work with some of the best artistic talents in the region.

About Nokia
Nokia is paving the way to the mobile information society with its innovative products and solutions. Nokia is the leading mobile phone supplier and a leading supplier of mobile, fixed and IP networks, related services as well as multimedia terminals. In 1999, net sales totaled EUR 19.8 billion (USD 19.9 billion). Headquartered in Finland, Nokia is listed on the New York (NOK), Helsinki, Stockholm, London, Frankfurt and Paris stock exchanges and employs more than 55 000 people.

About Gen Art

Gen Art is previewing the next generation of artistic talent now. From its offices in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, the organization has showcased over 500 emerging visual artists, filmmakers and fashion designers since 1994. The organization has also built up a loyal following of hip sophisticated, culturally hungry 23 - 35 year olds.