The Prize

Celeste Prize is an international, contemporary arts prize which every year awards 20,000 € and rewarding benefits to emerging and mid-career artists.

Entry is open to artists, photographers and creatives worldwide, without limits of age or experience. Works should contain an exciting and profound mix of contemporary perspectives and a creative use of artistic languages.

Enter


Prizes


43 finalist works and projects will be chosen by a jury of top art curators and critics, curated by Koyo Kouoh. Prizes are awarded according to voting by the finalist artists themselves at the final exhibition.

  • 20,000 € cash prizes
  • Project Prize, 4,000 €
  • Painting & Drawing Prize, 4,000 €
  • Photography & Digital Graphics Prize, 4,000 €
  •  Video & Animation Prize, 4,000 €
  •  Installation, Sculpture & Performance Prize, 4,000 €


Benefits

Exhibition opportunities are just some of the benefits which everyone can gain when entering the prize.

If you enter you could be selected for

  • Exhibition in one of our partner art galleries and residencies
  • Inclusion in ‘Editors' choice’, our weekly showcase of 5 prize works
  • Active promotion of your artwork in our internet social media

These are our partner galleries and residency on the look-out for talent, which will make their spaces available for exhibition in 2016:

 Art-Rooms    Boccanera    Farm    Galleria Bianconi

If you are a finalist

  • Your work will be presented to each of the 150 past jurors of Celeste Prize
  • Your work and personal presentation will be published in a printed catalogue
  • Your work will be exhibited in a top, Milan location which is followed by the city’s art crowd
  • You benefit from the communications whirlwind in the international art press

If you are a winner

  • We shall send a dedicated email about you and your work to everyone in the community
  • A dedicated video interview about you and your work
  • A dedicated news article in Celeste Network
  • A personal web portfolio in Viewbook
  • A part of 20,000 € cash prizes


Deadlines


  • 15 April  Early Bird - join by this date and get free Premium Membership.  
  • 30 June Last day to pay your entry fee.
  • 6 July Last day to upload work or project.
  • 10 September  Jury announces finalists’ shortlist.
  • 14 november Awards ceremony and finalists’ exhibition.

Jury

Each work submitted to the prize will be reviewed by a top, international jury of art curators and critics led by Koyo Kouoh.
In September the jury will announce the 43 finalist works and projects which will be invited to the final exhibition.

Location

David Teh
  • Finalists’ exhibition and awards
  • Zona Ventura, Lambrate, Milan, Italy
  • November 2015


Terms

TERMS & CONDITIONS CELESTE PRIZE 2015, 7th EDITION

These Terms & Conditions were published on 11 February 2015.
The deadline to enter is 30 June 2015.

It’s simpler, faster and cheaper to submit online.
To submit online a work or a project, sign-up or login here: http://www.celesteprize.com/eng_auth_login/
Once in your personal admin page, click on the box ‘Celeste Prize 2015’, pay entry fee and begin to upload your work.

Art. 1 – AIM
The prize has been established to promote international contemporary art in the widest possible sense. There will be a final exhibition of 40 works and 3 projects, a catalogue of circa 70 pages which will contain illustrations of finalists' works and critical texts, as well as 5 prizes totalling 20,000 € in cash. Awards night and exhibition of finalist works in Zona Ventura, Milan, Italy, November 2015.

Art. 2 - ELIGIBILITY
The competition is open to any person practicing art, either as a full-time or part-time professional or student, or as a self-taught artist from anywhere in the world. There is no age limit for applicants and the prize is open to all artists whatever their qualifications, with or without experience of public or private exhibitions. The prize encourages participation by artists at every level.

Art. 3 – PRIZES
Excellence in content, contemporary aesthetic, technique, and material is sought in the selection of works for the final exhibition. Works submitted to the prize must have been completed in the last 36 months, and do not necessarily have to have been exhibited before. There is no special subject, title or theme required for participating works, and they can range from being figurative to abstract, from conceptual to participatory to performance.

20,000 € cash prizes
A two-stage selection process guarantees openess, clarity and legitimacy to selections and awards. Firstly, a top, international jury of art critics and curators publishes its choice of finalist works, then the finalist artists themselves vote the award winning works at the final exhibition.

(A)  PROJECT PRIZE, 4,000 €*
Artists are encouraged to present works which investigate relevant social, political, economic or personal themes today. Up to 10 works in any media or mixture of media, can be included in a project. Each project must consider a maximum exhibition area of 6x6metres and the use of 6 linear-metre wall space. 3 Projects will be selected for the final exhibition by the chief-curator of the prize, Koyo Kouoh.

(B) PAINTING & DRAWINGS PRIZE, 4,000 €*

Media accepted: oil, acrylic, vinyl, watercolor, graphite, pencil, ink, illustrations, printing in its various forms, etc. The work can have any form of support: canvas, paper, cardboard, wood, plastic, metal, glass, etc. Diptychs or triptychs are considered one work. There is no limit to the size of works accepted. 10 Works will be selected for the final exhibition by the ‘Painting & Drawing’ jury.

(C) PHOTOGRAPHY & DIGITAL GRAPHICS PRIZE, 4,000 €*
Media accepted: digital or analogue photography; computer graphic modeling; net/web art and software art presented in a 2D format; works in which several media are used, for example digital manipulations which include the use of painting or other forms of manual expression, collages, polaroids, mobile phone photographs, etc. Diptychs or triptychs are considered one work. There is no limit to the size of works accepted. 10 Works will be selected for the final exhibition by the ‘Photography & Digital Graphics’ jury.

(D) VIDEO & ANIMATION PRIZE, 4,000 €*
Media accepted for the video and animation: video, short film, time lapse, stop motion, any kind of animation 2d and 3d, any kind of combination between video, film and photography in motion (see video Art. 5. (B), for video formats). 10 Works will be selected for the final exhibition by the ‘Video & Animation’ jury.

(E) INSTALLATION, SCULPTURE & PERFORMANCE PRIZE, 4,000 €*
Installation works of any nature in any material, video installation, multimedia or multidisciplinary installation; sculpture – all materials are accepted (organic or inorganic); net/web art and software art presented in a 3D format with or without web streaming; works with an interactive basis and/or connection to electricity, motorization, light, sound art or video installation. Any kind of human or interactive performance, which may or may not include the use of any form of software and hardware. Live Media audiovisual performances can either be projected on screens or presented as a live audiovisual performance, sound art and all forms of participatory art. There is no limit to the size of works accepted. For finalist works, it might be necessary to adapt them to site-specific necessities. 10 Works will be selected for the final exhibition by the ‘Installation, Sculpture & Performance’ jury.

*Celeste Prize has by Italian Law to hand over to the Italian state 25% of finalists’ prize money for tax purposes. This sum will be withheld by the Organizer from each first prize winner and all finalists who receive reimbursements.

Art. 4 – SELECTIONS & WINNERS
In order to guarantee accountability during the selection process and greater professionalism in the choice of finalist works, the jury is divided into specialist panels, in which curators with a track record in a particular media make selections.

Koyo Kouoh is chief-curator of Celeste Prize 2015, 7th edition

The specialist panels within the Jury:

Project Prize
Koyo Kouoh, director of Raw Material Company, Dakar

Painting & Drawing Prize

Koyo Kouoh, director of Raw Material Company, Dakar
Miguel Lopez, independent curator, Vienna & Peru
Tobias Ostrander, chief-curator, Pérez Art Museum Miami
Gloria Sensi, independent curator, Paris

Photography & Digital Graphics Prize

Jörg Bader, director, Centre de la photographie, Geneva
Eva Barois De Caevel, independent curator, Paris
Koyo Kouoh, director of Raw Material Company, Dakar
Aida Muluneh, founder, Addis Foto Fest, Addis Abba

Video & Animation Prize
Lucrezia Crippitelli, independent curator, Brussels
Koyo Kouoh, director of Raw Material Company, Dakar
Rasha Salti, curator, Toronto International Film Festival, New York & Beirut

Installation, Sculpture, Performance Prize

Koyo Kouoh, director of Raw Material Company, Dakar
Nicola Müllerschön, director, arts and culture foundation KfW Stiftung, Frankfurt
Gaia Tedone, independent curator, London
David Teh, director of Future Perfect, Singapore

SELECTION OF FINALIST WORKS
Each selector, in his or her prize category, chooses and publishes online 5 works for the finalist shortlist. The 10 works which receive a majority of preferences in each prize category will go through to the final exhibition. There will be 10 finalist works in each prize category, except in the Project Prize category in which there will be 3 projects, chosen by the chief-curator Koyo Kouoh. In the event of there being an equal number of preferences for works in any prize category Koyo Kouoh will decide which works will go forward into the final exhibition. If more than one work by the same artist is chosen as finalist by the selection panel, Koyo Kouoh will decide if both or just one will go to the final exhibition. Selections will be announced online by 10 September.

WINNERS & PRIZE VOTING
Only works present at the final exhibition can be voted for prizes. Each finalist will exercise one vote of preference in each of the 5 prize categories (Projects; Painting & Drawing; Photography & Digital Graphics; Video & Animation; Installation, Sculpture & Performance). The voting will be confidential. No one may vote for themselves or in agreement with other finalists, to do so will result in disqualification. Voting slips will be named and checked by Celeste. Winners will be those artists who receive the highest number of preferences in their prize category. In the event of a tie during voting in any prize section, Koyo Kouoh will decide which artist shall be the winner. Finalists unable to be present at the voting will be able to cast their vote in advance via email: info@celesteprize.com  Prizes will be given directly at the awards ceremony during the final exhibition..

OWNERSHIP OF WORKS
All finalists' works, including those by prize winners, will remain after the awards ceremony and exhibition, property of the artists or of their legitimate owners.

Art. 5 – ENTRIES & DEADLINE
Entry deadline is 30 June 2015, 8pm Italian time. This deadline hour and date is the last moment in which entry fees can be paid. Participants will have a further 7 days in which to upload their works and complete submissions.
There are two ways of submitting a work:
It's EASIER and more ECONOMIC to submit directly online.

(A) DIRECT UPLOAD ON WEBSITE
Entry fee: 50 € for each work (40 € for each additional work). 90 € to enter the ‘Projects Prize’ which includes up to 10 works (70 €  for additional projects).
Entry fees are not refundable.
To submit: sign-up or login to your personal admin page in Celeste, click on ‘submit’ in the box 'Celeste Prize 2015’, pay your entry fee, and immediately begin to upload your artwork, description and statement. You can always return to finish upload, when you have completed all uploads click on 'confirm' to ensure your work is visible and among candidate works to the prize.

(B) BY POST/ MAIL
Entry fee: 80 € for each work. 120 € to enter the ‘Projects Prize’ which includes upload by Celeste staff of upto 10 works on a specific project.
Entry fees are not refundable.
Send to: Celeste Prize 2015, Via Sangallo 23, 53036 Poggibonsi (Siena), Italy.
Include the following:
1. A complete and signed copy of the Application Form (see below and print).
2. On CD/DVD (or as positive photographs and text): Curriculum Vitae or a short biography, preferably written in English, but other languages are also accepted; An image file of the work you wish to submit, including title and description.

Image specifications for all works (except videos):
Images can be uploaded onsite in JPG or PNG; we advise at least 2,500 pixels on the longest side, sufficient for reproduction in the prize catalogue if selected. It is possible to approve, or not, visualisation onsite of the image in high resolution. If you are applying by mail send images of your works on a CD in JPG or PNG format. We advise a document size of 21x29 cm at 300 dpi. Or send a photograph in positive format, minimum size 15x10cm, maximum 21x29cm (A4). Please indicate on the reverse of all photographs: name and surname, address, title of work, medium, dimensions (width x height) and year of execution.

Image specifications for videos, motion graphics, animation, and live media:

If you upload in vimeo.com and cross-link you do not have to send in your work. Send your video art work on CD-ROM or DVD Data, or upload on the website, in the following format: MP4, speed or data rate 2500 kbits/sec (for regular video) or 5000 kbits/sec (for high definition); there is no duration limit. If your work is selected for exhibition you will be invited to send a copy of the original art work with its full quality characteristics. It is necessary to send a still-photograph taken from the video for reproduction in the 2015 Celeste Prize catalogue (read above for photo characteristics).

Art. 6 -  METHODS OF PAYMENT
(a) Online. Login http://www.celesteprize.com/eng_auth_login/  , enter your personal admin area and click on the box ‘Celeste Prize 2015’, pay for your entry with credit card via PayPal before you begin to upload artwork.

(b) Electronic bank transfer
Account name: Celeste Network
Bank name: Banco Posta
Branch: Poggibonsi (Siena), Italy.
IBAN: IT74 W076 0114 2000 0000 5409 079
Bic/Swift: BPPIITRRXXX
Send your entry fee in € Euro currency only, net, without transfer fees or commissions payable by Celeste on receipt. For bank transfers sent from outside Europe you must ADD 10 € Euro to the entry fee.
Please state the following details if you make a bank transfer:
1. Participating artist’s full first and family names.
2. Celeste Prize 2015 entry.

(c) Western Union
Send to: Name: Steven; Surname: Music; Address: San Gimignano (Siena); Country: Italy.
Ensure that we receive your entire, entry fee amount in Euro €, net of any transfer charges. If we have to pay transfer charges your application process will be halted. Please include in the description which accompanies your payment the following: ‘Entry fee payment for Celeste Prize 2015 by..(artist’s name, surname and country from where the money is being sent)’. Then, send confirmation email to info@celesteprize.com with the transaction code. As soon as we receive your entry fee we shall activate in your account in Celeste the possibility to upload your prize work.

Art. 7 – TIMETABLE FOR SELECTIONS & EXHIBITION
- 30 June, 8pm Italian time  - last day for entries to Celeste Prize 2015.
- 10 September - publication online of the jury’s choices for the 43 finalist works and projects.
- November - awards night and final exhibition in Zona Ventura, Milan, Italy.

Art. 8 – TRANSPORT & TRAVEL
Each finalist will arrange and cover transport/insurance costs of his or her work to and from the final exhibition location, as well as any personal travel arrangements. Installation and hanging of works for the exhibition will be decided by the Organizer. Any construction or production costs associated with creating or setting-up installation or sculpture works will be covered by the artists themselves.

Art. 9 – CATALOGUE

A copy of the 70 page catalogue with illustrations of the finalists' works and critical texts written by members of the selection panel will be available free to every finalist, while participating artists will receive a discount on list prices (see ‘Catalogues’ page). Copies of the catalogue can be collected at the finalists’ exhibition or requested at info@celesteprize.com
 
Art. 10 – ACCEPTANCES AND COPYRIGHT
(A) By ticking online Celeste Prize’s ‘Terms & Conditions’ or signing the ‘Application Form’ (the latter if prize submissions are made by post), artists accept and are responsible for all that these 2015 ‘Terms & Conditions’ and Celeste Network’s website ‘Terms of Use’ contain and declare.
(B) All works appearing onsite and in print remain copyright and property of the artists who created them or the works’ legal owners. But artists expressely allow Celeste Network to use the images of works they upload in Celeste Prize for communication and promotion purposes only, to create the prize catalogue, to use in online pages in Celeste Network or other promotional material associated with the prize inside or outside Celeste's websites.
(C)  CDs, DVDs, CVs and any texts or catalogues submitted for the prize will not be returned, but archived by the Organizer.
(D) Those persons who upload text, images, or videos onto the prize website, and/or those persons who upload on behalf of participating artists, are personally responsible for the texts and for the visual content of the uploaded images. The Organizer reserves the right to remove any defamatory images or texts, he considers defamatory, unless these are motivated in writing by the artist. Artworks uploaded and presented to ‘Celeste Prize 2015’ and personal webpage relating to the artist will remain visible online and in use as described in (B) above, as part of the complete visual documentation of each prize submission and cannot be removed.
(E) Applicants to the prize authorize the Organizer Steven Music, Celeste Network and all those persons charged with working for them to handle personal data and images of creative work submitted to Celeste Prize, according to Italian Law - Legge 675/96 (the so-called ‘Privacy Law’) and successive amendments to it, D.lgs 196/2003 (Codice Privacy), for the purposes of insertion of information in databases and website. Any controversies will be argued and settled in the Italian legal forum. Personal data, images of creative work, or films and videos taken by the Organizer during the course of any event organized by Celeste Network, might be used by the Organizer to promote artists, other contemporary art events, web promotion, communications, and marketing without necessarily seeking another written consent from third parties.
(F) The Organizer retains the right to change the Terms & Conditions should the need arise.

Celeste Prize 2015, 7th edition
is organized by Celeste Network,
Via Sangallo 23,
53036 Poggibonsi (Siena), Italy.
Tel / Fax: +39 0577 1521988
info@celesteprize.com



APPLICATION FORM FOR POSTAL ENTRIES ONLY - Celeste Prize 2015, 7th edition

If you wish to enter the prize by post complete and sign the Application Form and send it with all materials requested in Art.5 (B) of the 2015 Terms & Conditions.

1. I wish to apply to Celeste Prize 2015:
Name and Family name/Surname_________________________
Male/female__________________________________________
Postal address________________________________________
Place & date of birth (city & nation)_____________________
Place of work/study (city & nation)_______________________
Email and website_____________________________________
Telephone number/cell._________________________________

2. With the following artwork:
Title________________________________________________
Measurement (width x height x depth in cm)________________
Medium_____________________________________________
Support_____________________________________________
Year of execution______________________________________
If the work is a video, name author of musical credits_________

3. I wish to enter the following prize category(ies)
(make a cross beside) :
Projects Prize
Painting & Drawing Prize
Photography & Digital Graphics Prize
Video & Animation Prize
Installation, Sculpture & Performance Prize

4. I have attached the following documentation listed in Art. 5 (B) of Terms & Conditions:
Signed and completed Application Form, photographic or video materials, CV, receipt confirming payment of 80 € entry fee in which the Organizer uploads my candidate work, or 120 € to enter the Projects Prize.

5. Acceptances
1) I accept selections made by the members of the Jury.
2) I accept the decision to award prizes to artists who receive a majority of preferences from other finalists.
3) I accept the selections made for catalogue illustration.
4) I have read and I accept the ‘Terms & Conditions of 2015 Celeste Prize’.

Signed_________________________________
Date___________________________________

Send Postal Applications to:
‘Celeste Prize 2015’,
Celeste Network, Via Sangallo 23, 53036 Poggibonsi (Siena), Italy.
Tel & Fax: +39 0577 1521988
info@celesteprize.com 
http://www.celesteprize.com/

How to enter

Entry fee