The COAL Prize 2024 calls for transformative artistic practices that bring about changes inseparably individual and communal. Artists developing restorative practices can participate either individually or in groups. According to the call, “through their exploratory approaches, these practices embrace the radical uncertainty of a changing world, the better to distance themselves from the principles laid down by a tendency towards techno-solutionism. They invite situated knowledge rather than expert knowledge, and provide experiential support for evolving capacities rather than imposing changes in behavior. They transform in the literal sense, by creating forms that can be appropriated by others to give everyone back the desire and the power to act.”
The COAL Prize winner will receive €12,000 and a creative residency at the Domaine de Belval, a wildlife observatory in the French Ardennes. The residency, run by the François Sommer Foundation, aims to welcome artists who contribute to the renewal of the relationship between humans and their natural environment. It also offers a €3,000 award for the winner of the Jury’s Special Prize, a residency and €12,000 for the winner of the Ateliers Médicis award, and a €2,000 award and an invitation to exhibit their work for the winner of the Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles/ Paris mention. Additionally, five artists will be invited to the partner venues of the European Transformative Territories program.
To apply, applicants are to submit a single PDF not exceeding 30 Mb, which includes the completed application form, a detailed description of the proposed project, at least two visuals illustrating the project, a CV and a portfolio. The application should be submitted by 11:59 pm on May 5th, 2024 via the COAL server.
Applicants will be judged on the following criteria: artistic value, relevance, originality, pedagogy, social and participative approaches, eco-design, and feasibility. The COAL Prize supports artistic projects in progress and is not intended to cover all production costs of the project but should be considered as an aid to its development.
Find out more on the COAL Prize's website.
