Water is never just water. It is memory, resource, ritual and crisis — all of which the François Schneider Foundation asks artists to explore in its long-running Talents Contemporains competition. Since 2011 the Foundation has sought out emerging voices in contemporary art whose work re-imagines the critical and poetic dimensions of water.
This year’s edition welcomes painters, sculptors, installation artists, photographers, video and mixed-media practitioners from anywhere in the world. Submissions can be an existing artwork or a project proposal; the Foundation is particularly open to ambitious production proposals that interrogate water’s ecological, social or symbolic roles.
What winners receive
Between 4 and 7 artists will be chosen.
€15,000 will be awarded for the acquisition of each winning work, which will join the Foundation’s collection.
For production-heavy projects (large installations, site-specific works) the Foundation can provide production support of up to €50,000.
A group exhibition of the selected artists will be shown at the Foundation’s contemporary art centre in Wattwiller, France.
The Foundation will publish a bilingual catalogue and produce documentary videos to present the winners’ works, and it offers press and promotional support.
Who should apply
If your practice engages with water — materially, conceptually, or poetically — this call is for you. The competition is open to visual artists of all nationalities. Each artist may submit one work or one project proposal only. Photographic and video works presented in multiple editions may be subject to different acquisition conditions; check the regulations for details.
Practical notes
Submissions are made through the Foundation’s online platform.
Proposals that request production funding must include a clear budget (note: production budgets cannot exceed €50,000).
Applications are accepted in English; French speakers may submit in French.
Make sure the work you send has not already competed in the same edition.
Deadline
Applications open 15 September 2025 and close on 23 November 2025 (11:59 PM local time, France). Don’t miss it.
Why this matters
Beyond prizes, this competition gives artists a rare opportunity: visibility in an international programme that commissions, collects and publishes. For artists working with urgent environmental themes — or those who want to make water the axis of a rigorous conceptual project — it’s a practical and reputational step forward.
If you’re thinking of applying, now is the time to prepare good documentation (high-resolution images, CV, artist statement) and, for project proposals, a realistic production plan. Good luck — and if you want, we at AtiArte.art can help you polish your submission package before you hit send.
