Events

Pauline-Desautels Award 2026

Open Call to Women Artists

CIRCA art actuel is pleased to announce the return of the Pauline-Desautels Award. The $5,000 prize is awarded annually to a committed artist whose work in sculpture or installation, in keeping with CIRCA’s mission, has stood out to the public and the artistic community as a whole over the past three years. 

A free woman, teacher, feminist, passionate about the arts and a friend of artists, Pauline Desautels wanted to highlight and encourage committed women whose work focuses on the visual arts, particularly sculpture and installation. 

Eligibility Criteria

  • A woman who is an artist of any generation;
  • A permanent residence in Quebec;
  • The project presented must relate to the mandate of CIRCA art actuel;
  • The artist must propose a project that has been presented in the last three years, in a recognized exhibition place or in the public space.

Criteria for Awarding the Prize 

The project:

  • demonstrates an art practice that is engaged with concerns such as the social, political, feminist, environment…;
  • must have had a significant impact on the artist’s career and/or the art world;
  • must convey the innovative nature of the project in relation to the artist’s approach.

The members of the selection committee will evaluate the artistic quality of the project. 

Presentation of Your Submission

Include a cover page with the following information:

  • title, brief description, date of the work’s presentation in the space and its location. Include at least one photograph;
  • a text presenting the project, a maximum of 750 words;
  • a letter of recommendation from a cultural professional (curator, curatorial assistant, art historian, gallery director, etc.). This letter must address the criteria for the award and must not exceed 500 words;
  • an artist’s statement, a maximum of 300 words;
  • an up-to-date curriculum vitae;
  • a maximum of five (5) photographs of the work, with description and preferably in context. If you deem it relevant, include a Vimeo link.

Please compile all of these documents into a single PDF (JPEG files are not accepted).

The selection committee composed of at least two CIRCA art actuel artist members and one invited guest from the art community will evaluate the projects. 

Please send your application to prixpaulinedesautels@circa-art.com before Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 11:59 p.m..

CIRCA art actuel will send you an acknowledgement of receipt. If you have not received this within two weeks of sending your application, please contact us at: prixpaulinedesautels@circa-art.com

Published on