The René Carcan International Prize for Printmaking

The René Carcan International Prize for Printmaking is open to printmakers and students of printmaking, of any nationality and with no age limit.

It has been created in 2014 by the non-profit organisation asbl Espace René Carcan, pursuing two objectives: fill a significant gap by providing Belgium with an international competition for printmaking, and acknowledging the wish of René Carcan (1925-1993) to increase the recognition of printmaking, which is sometimes considered to be a poor cousin of the plastic arts. 

This Prize will be awarded every two years.

Part 1: the calendar

1.    18/03/2019: 12pm : Opening of the registrations

2.    16/09/2019: 12pm : Deadline for the submission of application forms

3.    16/10/2019: Deliberation by the Selection jury

4.    23/10/2019: Notification of the selected artists

5.    02/11/2019: 12pm : Opening of the public vote

6.    02/12/2019: Deadline for receipt of the works by post

7.    14/12/2019: Deliberation by the International Jury

8.    06/01/2020: 12pm : Closing of the public vote

9.    01/02/2020: Prize-giving ceremony From 02/02/2018 to 23/02/2020: Exhibition in Bibliotheca Wittockiana in Brussels Bibliotheca Wittockiana.

Part 2: the candidates and their works

Candidates should register exclusively through the website http://award.renecarcan.be 

To be eligible, applications must be submitted by 16/09/2019 at the latest and meet all the requirements specified on the website and in present Rules and Regulations. The candidates will present minimum 4 and maximum 8 engravings in digital format.

The following printmaking techniques will be accepted: etching, lithography, linocut, xylography, silkscreen and monotype. These works must have been created during the last 3 years. The candidates should indicate in their application form whether their works may be put up for sale – and at what price – should they be selected.

The candidates who are chosen in the 1st selection process should send by post to the organizers 3 prints of their choice, chosen from the works they presented online for the competition. These works should have a maximum size of 56/76 cm (Jesus or Grand-Raisin format). They should be sent unframed, without glass and uncounted, in a rigid and reusable roll or cardboard portfolio, bearing the mailing label which can be downloaded from the website, and with no indication of price.

The prints will be sent at the shipper’s risk and will be taken over on their arrival at the premises of the competition organizers. The asbl Espace René Carcan can in no way be held liable for damages occurred during the shipping of the engravings. The candidates are free to take out a private insurance from an insurance company of their choice.

Prints received after the deadline of 02/12/2019 will not be taken into consideration. And only those applications and sending which meet the above criteria will be accepted.

The candidates waive their rights to reproduce their works for the exhibition catalogue or for the purposes of publicity.

About the return of the works, the candidate will pay a fixed price of 45 € corresponding to postage costs, before 02/12/2019.

Part 3: the jury and the procedure

3.1. COMPOSITION OF THE JURY

The asbl Espace René Carcan has sole authority to nominate the members of the Jury, including the President. Their number is not limited. The Jury members will be chosen for their expertise in the field of art, and printmaking in particular.

The role of the Jury is to make a selection amongst the candidates, to nominate the prizewinners and to award the prizes. The decisions of the Jury are final.

3.2. PROCEDURES

A first selection will be made by the Selection jury – composed of members of the asbl Espace René Carcan – who will choose 25 candidates maximum. The works of those candidates who successfully pass this first selection process will be submitted to the International Jury for awarding the Grand Prix and the endowed mentions.

The works will also be put to the vote of the website users. The artist whose works receive the most votes by the closing date will receive the René Carcan Public Prize. The winners shall be personally notified by email. The organizers undertake to return to the participants those prints which have not been purchased, subject to the payment of postage by the candidate (see Part 2: the candidates and their works). In the event of a sale, the asbl Espace René Carcan will take a 30% commission.

Any amounts due to the artists will be paid to them by bank transfer only. The selected candidates will automatically be able to participate in the exhibition of the René Carcan International Prize for Printmaking. The prize-winning work of the René Carcan International Prize for Printmaking will remain the property of Espace René Carcan. The organizers are intending to publish a catalogue, a copy of which will be sent to all the candidates who are chosen for the exhibition.

PART 4: THE PRIZES, DISTINCTIONS AND AWARDS

Various prizes, distinctions and awards, endowed or not, will be shared between the candidates selected as part of the René Carcan International Prize for Printmaking: 

·         René Carcan International Grand Prix: € 5.000 

·         First mention: € 3.000 

·         Second mention: € 2.000

·         René Carcan Public Prize: honorific prize; no prize money is awarded

Except for the Public Prize, the prizes will be attributed at the discretion of the Jury. The jury may elect not to confer any award.

All additional information may be obtained by sending an email to: helpdesk@renecarcan.org