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The COAL Art & Environment prize was launched in 2010 by the French association COAL, the coalition for art and sustainable development, to reward a project about the environment by a contemporary artist.

The winner is chosen by a jury of personalities from the worlds of contemporary art, research, ecology and sustainable development, out of 10 finalists selected from an international call for entries.

The COAL Prize 2011, worth 10 000 euros, comes under the auspices of the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, the National Centre of Fine Arts (CNAP), and enjoys the support of PwC and a private benefactor.

The call for entries opened on 1 December 2010.
The application period closes on 30 April 2011.
The prize will be awarded in May 2011

Today, environmental degradation represents a growing concern, covering a very wide field:
- resource management and depletion: water, energy, waste...
- crisis factors: system of production and consumption, pollution, demographics, land use...
- environmental crises: climate change, rising water levels, loss of biodiversity...
- conceptual framework: environmental law, shared assets, social justice, community harmony...

To mark the International Year of the Forest and promote entries on this theme in 2011, this year’s COAL Prize includes a special mention to reward entries that focus on forest issues.

The entry selection criteria takes stock of the artistic value, relevance (understanding the issues), originality (ability to introduce novel approaches, themes  and points of view), pedagogy (ability to get a message across, to raise awareness), a social and participative approach (engagement, testimony, efficiency, societal dynamics), eco-design, feasibility.
An artist’s specialisation on the environment is not a selection criterion. The aim of the prize is to encourage artists to focus on environmental issues.

The COAL Art & Environment Prize ceremony is a unique event held in a symbolic location, attended by the artist finalists and personalities from the world of art and sustainable development.
Entries by artist finalists are displayed to promote networking with bodies and authorities, which could facilitate the future realisation of projects.

All proposals should be submitted to the COAL FTP server  before 30 April 2011.

See website for full details of jury and selection committee and application procedure.