Prizes / Awards / Competitions

bewegter wind e.V. is a dedicated organisation committed to orchestrating the Wind Art Festival and fostering the appreciation of wind art and intercultural dialogue. At the core of this festival lies the symbolism of wind, representing spirit and communication in cultures across the globe. This festival unfolds against diverse landscapes, where wind art, renowned for its transient nature and its enduring sense of incompleteness, takes shape in various locations such as forests, high-altitude terrains, lakes, and quarries. These artistic creations render the wind visible and seamlessly integrate it into art. The festival also hosts a captivating competition that acknowledges artists who delve into the concept of wind through objects, installations, performances, and videos. The International Wind Art Festival takes place biennially, rotating across different regional settings. It serves as an immersive landscape exhibition featuring an art competition, artist gatherings, cultural exchanges, exhibition tours, and engaging programmes tailored for children. Since its inception in 2004, bewegter wind has successfully organised ten international art competitions, showcasing an impressive array of 675 works by 555 artists from 35 countries. These exhibitions have been staged at 33 distinct venues, solidifying the organisation’s commitment to fostering a deeper connection between art, culture, and the ever-inspiring force of the wind.

The German Ecodesign Award is a recognition programme that honours designers, companies, and students hailing from Germany and Europe. It acknowledges their significant contributions to advancing the sustainable transformation of our economy and society. Initiated in 2012, this award is conferred annually by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment and the German Environment Agency in cooperation with the International Design Center Berlin. The award encompasses a wide spectrum of sustainable endeavours, including but not limited to sustainable consumer goods, rental systems, repair services, and technical innovations in the fields of housing and mobility. Participants are encouraged to demonstrate a range of ideas and initiatives that actively contribute to the ongoing shift toward a more sustainable society. The German Ecodesign Award specifically recognises outstanding examples of sustainability in product design, services, and conceptual frameworks, all distinguished by their exceptional design quality. Its primary objective is to promote environmentally responsible changes in both development and production processes, as well as in consumer behaviour. In doing so, it underscores the critical role of design in advancing ecological progress.

The Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity, established in 2020, is dedicated to acknowledging individuals and organisations at the forefront of addressing today’s most pressing global challenge: climate change. It recognises outstanding efforts in climate action and solutions that instil hope. The annual prize, amounting to one million euros, is directed toward supporting those who are most severely affected by climate change and facilitating the expansion of climate-related initiatives. Annually, on the 20th of July, coinciding with the date of the founder’s passing, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation pays tribute to its founder through a series of ceremonies culminating in the presentation of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Prizes. The Gulbenkian Prize for Humanity specifically aims to honour individuals, groups, or organisations from around the world whose contributions to climate change mitigation and adaptation are distinguished by their originality, innovation, and impact.

The COAL Prize celebrates contemporary artists actively engaging with ecological issues and championing sustainability. Each year, a panel of experts shortlists ten outstanding projects from a global pool of submissions received through an open call. These ten projects undergo rigorous evaluation by a jury comprising representatives from partner organisations and renowned experts in art and ecology. All applications considered by COAL and the selection committee automatically become part of an artist network, potentially leading to future opportunities and collaborations within COAL and its partner initiatives. The COAL Prize winner is honoured with a financial grant and a residency at the Domaine de Belval, which the François Sommer Foundation manages. This estate, nestled in the scenic French Ardennes within the commune of Belval-Bois-des-Dames, serves as an observation centre for rural life and wildlife. It hosts artists each year, recognising their invaluable contributions to redefining the relationship between humanity and nature.

A Greener Festival is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to reducing the environmental footprint of music festivals and events. In 2007, they introduced the A Greener Festival Award initiative. Festival organisers can join this programme by paying a nominal fee, which covers the cost of audits. A Greener Festival assigns auditors to assess the sustainability measures implemented by festivals, evaluating their efforts to promote environmental friendliness. Award nominees are selected based on thorough evaluations conducted by trained sustainability auditors, including meticulous assessment, on-site visits, the presentation of supporting evidence, and in-depth analysis. Participating in this awards programme brings recognition and encourages events to undergo an Environmental Impact Assessment. This assessment fosters a deeper understanding of their environmental impact, promotes the setting of sustainability goals, enables ongoing monitoring, and encourages continuous improvement in environmental performance. These efforts benefit the environment and the events industry as a whole and give participating events a competitive edge, positioning them as leaders in embracing essential sustainability practices.

Nesta and The National Gallery X (The National Gallery and King’s College London) partnered to create a unique creative experience that aims to inspire a net zero carbon future. This initiative is part of Nesta’s Sustainable Future mission, which seeks to reduce pollution from homes in the UK and to engage the public in addressing the climate crisis. The project involved collaborating with creative and artistic teams to develop an experience based on the Gallery’s collection in order to raise awareness of climate change and household emissions. The goal is to encourage cleaner, greener homes and highlight the importance of addressing household emissions, since the residential sector contributes significantly to UK emissions. As part of this initiative, they offered two R&D production commissions worth around £40,000 each, along with in-kind contributions from The National Gallery, King’s College London, and Nesta. These commissions allowed two artists to develop experiences that were creatively ambitious, grounded in science and the Gallery’s collection, and co-designed with target audiences. The project showcased two exhibitions designed to engage and educate the public about climate change and sustainable choices in homes, with positive feedback indicating increased awareness and appreciation for the initiative. This project began in September 2021 and ended in April 2022.

The Land Art Generator (LAGI) is on a mission to accelerate the transition to post-carbon economies by showcasing models of renewable energy infrastructure that not only generate power but also enhance public spaces. The goal is to inspire and educate while ensuring that power access is equitable for households worldwide. To achieve this mission, LAGI hosts a biennial international design competition. This open platform invites creative minds from around the world to explore the essence of energy infrastructure and its potential in architectural form. Participants are encouraged to envision how such infrastructure can seamlessly integrate into urban landscapes, enrich public spaces, serve as educational tools, and spark inspiration. Over the years, this initiative has engaged thousands of individuals worldwide, resulting in the presentation of over a thousand unique and optimistic visions of a future powered by clean energy. The competition’s design requirements are comprehensive, with a focus on the artwork’s ability to harness natural energy sources, convert it into clean electricity, and efficiently transmit it to a grid connection point within urban settings. Safety for the public and potential on-site educational activities are also top priorities. Importantly, designs must be practical and feasible, not merely theoretical, and they must coexist harmoniously with the natural ecosystems of the chosen sites.

Quo Artis is an international non-profit organisation that serves as a bridge connecting art, science, and technology professionals. To commemorate its fifth anniversary in 2020, the foundation introduced its inaugural award, which is dedicated to supporting the research, development, and production of artistic projects that have yet to be realised. This award was opened to international artists and art collectives, both established and emerging, utilising a diverse range of materials and techniques to create groundbreaking and innovative artworks. The Quo Artis Award was created to engage with pressing contemporary issues and themes, foster experimentation and innovation in artistic practices, encourage new explorations at the intersection of art and science, and recognise artists who have demonstrated exceptional creativity and achievement. This inaugural award addressed urgent global societal challenges: PostNatural Histories; Anthropocene, Capitalocene & Biocene; Art, systems, and collective and emergent intelligence; Artificial intelligence, living systems, natural data, living machines, and synthetic life.

The Prix Pictet’s primary goal is to use photography, across all genres, as a tool to spotlight sustainability issues, with a strong focus on the environment. Established in 2008 by the Pictet Group, it has grown into a prestigious global photography award dedicated to sustainability. Over nine award cycles, each with a unique sustainability theme, nominees are selected by a network of over 300 nominators worldwide, resulting in approximately 4,700 nominations. Since its launch in 2008, the Prix Pictet has organised exhibitions in major cities worldwide, drawing over 550,000 visitors in total. The award is given to photographers whose work, according to an independent jury, excels both artistically and in the way it relates to the theme through storytelling. With each award cycle, a book is published and distributed globally. These books feature the work of shortlisted photographers and highlight impactful images from other nominated photographers.

The Austrian competition “Win Sustainably!” requires participants to meet specific sustainability criteria for public events. Events are expected to incorporate sustainable elements into their planning and execution, contributing to a more environmentally responsible approach. This includes considerations related to waste management, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and other sustainable practices. The submission process is retrospective, and events should occur within the specified time frame. Eligible participants include sport clubs, communities, agencies, religious communities, schools, and organisers of local or regional festivals and events. The competition includes categories for festivals, cultural events, sporting events, and sustainable sports clubs, with specific criteria for each category.

Through a fellowship and a mentorship programme, the AFIELD gathers and supports artists and cultural practitioners who develop social initiatives that benefit communities within and beyond the arts field. In the continuity of their artistic practice or as a step “further afield”, selected initiatives enact positive, social, environmental, and political change in response to the needs of a community. AFIELD offers fellowships to artists and cultural practitioners who have initiated impactful social projects to foster lasting, tangible difference and empower their communities. These practitioners work in various creative disciplines as visual artists, filmmakers, choreographers, photographers, actors, writers, curators, and journalists. They all work beyond their traditional studios to benefit communities worldwide. The AFIELD fellowship is a monetary grant awarded annually to three artists and cultural practitioners who have initiated social projects catalysing change and empowering their communities in long-term and tangible ways.

The Creative Power Award was founded in 2020 by Rachel Hills and Simon Moss, two Australian culture creators in New York City. It is a small grants programme supporting creators at the intersection of art and social justice. Recipients receive up to $2,000 USD / $3,000 AUD, monthly mentoring sessions, and access to an online community. The award focuses on creative ideas fostering dialogue, shifting perceptions, and driving social change. Projects can be of various forms, and some winners address broader scope of environmental issues. Assessment criteria encompass the project’s social impact and creativity, as well as the creator’s potential to effect change, track record, and distribution plan. Eligibility is limited to emerging creators with incomplete projects.

S+T+ARTS, an initiative by the European Commission, fosters collaborations between technology and artistic practices, aligning with European policymaking to drive innovation while benefiting the arts sector. It emphasises individuals and projects addressing Europe’s social, ecological, and economic challenges. One key component is the prestigious S+T+ARTS Award, which annually offers €40,000 in prize money. This competition highlights innovative projects at the intersection of science, technology and the arts, with a potential for significant impact on economic and social innovation. Two prizewinners receive €20,000 each and gain prominence at events hosted by consortium partners, including Ars Electronica, Bozar, Waag, INOVA+, T6 Ecosystems, French Tech Grande Provence, and Frankfurter Buchmesse. A jury analyses all nominations to decide on the two prize-winning projects and up to ten honorary mentions.

The World Around, a public charity, is a global platform founded in New York in 2020 to engage the global design and architecture industry to enable positive change at scale. The Young Climate Prize, a biannual initiative by The World Around, combines an award and mentorship programme for individuals under 25. Its objective is to enhance and expedite the influence of climate-focused projects worldwide. The programme pairs 25 young climate leaders with global design and architecture community mentors. Three exceptional winners have the opportunity to present their work and ideas at The World Around’s annual summit, hosted at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The prize connects a cohort of 25 talented young visionaries with international Design Champions in a bespoke, curated academy of talks, workshops, and one-on-one mentorship available in multiple languages.

Since its establishment in 1996, the Prince Claus Fund has been committed to supporting arts and culture, particularly in regions facing challenges in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Eastern Europe. A key avenue through which the Fund accomplishes this mission is the Prince Claus Awards. These awards come in three categories, tailored to assist artists and cultural practitioners at different stages of their careers: Prince Claus Seed Awards, Prince Claus Fellows Awards, and Prince Claus Impact Awards. The Prince Claus Fellows Awards aim to empower mid-career talent, expedite socially engaged art practices, and facilitate meaningful connections among creatives addressing similar themes. Fellows receive €10,000 to invest in the further growth of their practice alongside opportunities to expand their work’s impact. Structured into themed, regional, and interdisciplinary programmes, each in collaboration with a partner organization, the Fellows Award engages participants in year-long collaborative learning with carefully chosen mentors, guest speakers and workshops, both online and in person. One of the themed programmes is Cultural & Artistic Responses to the Environmental Crisis (CAREC), dedicated to 12 artists whose practice focuses on climate justice and its connection to social, racial, and environmental issues.