Application Deadline: April 28, 2026
LOCATION: France
The COAL Prize 2026 is dedicated to the theme of night. The COAL Prize invites artists to defend the night as a common good, a major ecological issue for the regeneration of life, a refuge, a diversity of languages to be celebrated, and a right to rest and to darkness.
ELIGIBILITY:
Ten artists are nominated by a selection committee of professionals for their projects submitted in response to this international call for entries. The Prix COAL and its special mentions are awarded from among these ten projects by a jury made up of representatives of the partner organizations and personalities from the fields of art and ecology. In addition, all the entries considered by COAL and the selection committee help to make known artists and projects that may be solicited or promoted according to other opportunities and actions carried out by the association and its partners.
Artistic value, relevance to the issues, originality (new approaches, themes, or perspectives), pedagogy (ability to convey a message and raise awareness), social and participatory approach (engagement, testimony, efficiency, societal impact), eco-design, project feasibility, and collaboration with nature conservation actors are taken into account. The COAL Prize supports artistic projects in progress or forthcoming. Its grant is not intended to cover the full production costs of the project and should be considered as support for its development.
The application file must consist of the following documents, compiled into a single PDF file named SURNAME_First name_2026_Project title (the file must not exceed 30 MB):
The application form, available for download HERE
A detailed description of the proposed project, presenting its artistic dimension and its relevance to the theme, as well as a technical note and a budget estimate
At least two HD visuals illustrating the project
A Curriculum Vitae and an artistic portfolio
All proposals must be submitted by 23:59 on 28 April 2026 at the latest, via the COAL server : upload.projetcoal.org
At the same time, a call for projects is open for the COAL Student Prize, aimed at students from French arts and culture schools. The art projects appel à projets student call rigth here
BENEFIT:
The artist awarded the COAL Prize receives a grant of €12,000 and a creative residency at the heart of the Domaine de Belval, property of the François Sommer Foundation, supported by the scientific and educational teams of the Musée de la Chasse et de la Nature and those of the Domaine de Belval.
The artist awarded the Special Jury Prize receives a grant of €3,000. – The artist awarded the Ateliers Médicis mention benefits from a residency in Clichy-sous-Bois/Montfermeil, in connection with the regional forest of Bondy. The artist awarded the Centre Wallonie-Bruxelles/Paris mention, also known as Le Vaisseau, receives a grant of €2,000 and will be invited to exhibit at the Parisian institution.
YouthExpat 