Written by The Domaine de l’Abbaye de Pontigny—a 9-hectare Cistercian masterpiece featuring 6,000 m² of historic buildings – is embarking on a new chapter under the leadership of the François Schneider Foundation. Following its focus on “Water” in Alsace, the Foundation is establishing its second major anchor in Burgundy around a central theme: Earth.
Terms and Eligibility:
This call for applications is open to artists or artist collectives of all ages (adults) and nationalities, whose practice falls within the scope of the visual and plastic arts.
- Profile: Applicants must demonstrate professional artistic activity, significant experience, and regular exhibition/distribution of their work (art school degree, solo and/or group exhibitions, artist residencies, publications, etc.). Artists already featured in the Wattwiller collection (winners of the “Water” themed competition) are eligible to participate in this “Earth” edition.
- Eligible Disciplines: For this 2026 inaugural edition, the competition is open to artists presenting a work on the theme of Earth in the following fields: sculpture and installation.
— Please note: Applications featuring any other artistic medium will not be considered. - Artwork Format: The submitted artwork (whether it consists of a single piece or a series/set) must focus exclusively on the theme of Earth. Each candidate may submit only one artwork or project per year.
Artists are invited to submit realistic, figurative, or abstract proposals that offer a unique and sensitive perspective on the theme of Earth. The originality and relevance of the artwork, as well as its aesthetic vision and the technical feasibility of its installation on the landscaped grounds of the Domaine de l’Abbaye de Pontigny, will be the primary criteria evaluated by the Expert Committee and the Grand Jury.
Prize:
For each edition, the International Grand Jury will select a maximum of 4 to 5 winners.
- Each winner will receive a grant of €15,000. This amount includes the merit prize and the official acquisition of the artwork, which will join the collection of the François Schneider Foundation.
- Special Case: The grant is set at €8,000 if the acquired artwork is a sculpture produced in multiple numbered editions.
Applications can only be submitted electronically after registering on the François Schneider Foundation website by clicking the Individual registration or Collective registration buttons at the top of the page.
More info: Talents Contemporains Competition
