The upcoming Forum of Essays on Art will host, following a proposition from Jacques Serrano who conceived the event, a first “competition of ideas” on the theme of: “rethinking the social and economic conditions of art * ”

This invitation to rethink the social and economic conditions of art by questioning conceptions inherited from the twentieth century seeks to present the artworld – as well as the political and intellectual worlds – with two forceful proposals, developed by two European thinkers, whether they be artists, critics, curators, philosophers, sociologists, economists, jurists, etc.

*For this first European competition of essays on art, the proposed theme covers the field of the visual arts and it benefits from a 10,000€ first prize thanks to the support of the Mondriaan Fondation.

Texts (three pages) may be submitted in French, English or Dutch.

Submission deadline: 15th November 2008

*******
COMPETITION OF IDEAS

Rules and regulations

Article 1.- This “competition of ideas” is conceived by Jacques Serrano and organised by the Association
Forum de l'Essai sur l'Art, 9 rue du Val de Grâce 75005 Paris, France.

Article 2.- The aim of this competition is to elicit and to promote two forceful intellectual propositions put
forward by two European authors on the theme: “Rethinking the social and economic conditions of art”:
Toward a new status of art questioning twentieth-century conceptions. This first competition covers the field
of visual arts. Participation is free and unrestricted.

Article 3.- The competition is open to participants (artists, researchers, critics, art students, curators...) from
all cultural and intellectual fields: philosophy, sociology, art, economics.... Collectively authored texts are
accepted.

Article 4.- Candidates should send a three-page synopsis (250 words per page) outlining their proposal. Texts
are accepted in French, English or Dutch.

Article 5.- Submissions must be received by 15 November 2008 (midnight local time). A duly completed
entry form (see attached) must accompany all entries, whether submitted in print or by email. Proposals may
be sent by email:

concours-essaisurlart@orange.fr

Or by post:

Association Forum de l'Essai sur l'Art
Concours d'idées
9 rue du Val de Grâce 75005 Paris

Article 6.- Two propositions deemed most relevant will be selected by a reading committee comprised of
experts of international standing (critics, philosophers, art historians, curators). The authors of the two
selected propositions will have nine months to develop their initial propositions into the form of an essay of a
minimum of 100 pages, which will subsequently be published.

Article 7.- The winning authors will be informed of the jury's decision by mid November. The selected
proposals will be made public during the European Forum on Essays on Art on the 22 November at
midnight. The proposition deemed most outstanding by the jury will be awarded 10 000 €, to be paid out in two
installments: 5 000 € at the end of November 2008, and 5 000€ upon reception of the final draft of the essay.
The proposal chosen as runner-up by the jury will be published.
The Association Forum de l'essai sur l'art will undertake discussions with European publishing houses to
encourage the translation and publication of both essays in different languages.
Both selected authors will accept the disclosure of their identities as well as the publication of the content of
their proposals.
All texts entered in the competition will be posted on the Internet with the written consent of the authors (a
permission form provided by the organisers must be completed and submitted along with the synopsis).

Article 8.- The reading committee reserves the right not to award a first prize if it deems that no essay
meeting the aforementioned criteria of quality has been submitted.