Sarreguemines: Concours International de Céramique Sarreguemines 2002

The Grand Prix for Ceramics
of Sarreguemines 2002

Concours International de Céramique de Sarreguemines
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The Town of Sarreguemines, in collaboration with the Committee of the Grand Prix for Ceramics, organizes an international competition of artistic ceramics dedicated to functional objects.

The purpose of this initiative is to revive the town's tradition of producing utilitarian ceramic objects and to encourage visitors to discover the rich faience heritage of Sarreguemines.

The next Grand Prix will take place in 2005.

The Grand Prix for Ceramics awarded by the Town of Sarreguemines

Since 1992, the Saint-Paul festivities of Sarreguemines have revived the town's traditional arts of the fire and the table. This festival, dedicated to the directors of the faience works, Paul Utzschneider and Paul de Geiger, from the end of the 19th century to around the fifties, has brought back to life the ceramic production so dear to the town. The aim of the Grand Prix for Ceramics is to encourage artists from all over the world to display their skills and creativity on a given theme. It is the only event organized in the eastern region of France which puts the spotlight on a functional object in ceramic.

Artists from allover Europe, from the USA, Japan, Australia... are applying.

What is the SarregueminesGrand Prix for Ceramics?

The Grand Prix takes place every three years and highlights utilitarian or practical objects by adding an imaginative, warm and festive touch to them. These objects should also increase the pleasure of sitting at table for a meal with friends and family.
The Committee sets a different theme for each competition. In 1993, the theme was "the bowl", in 1996 it was "the box", and in 1999 it was "the soup tureen".

Theme 2002
For its fourth year, the theme chosen by the competition committee will be:
"Variations on a vase".
The candidates are to present a set of three vases. The objects will be judged separately and as a whole.

Would you like to see who participated in 1999?

How is it organized?
The competition is organized in two phases :
* selection of candidates on the basis of their qualifications by an international jury,

* presentation to the public of all the works chosen by the international jury for the award of the Grand Prix.
The selected candidates may also present five other pieces typical of their usual style at this exhibition. A catalogue is published containing the photos of the exhibited works, together with the names, addresses and brief presentations of the artists.

* A catalogue is published containing the photos of the exhibited works, together with the names, addresses and brief presentations of the artists.

Participants will be allowed to sell their artwork.

The Grand Prix

The international jury is formed of experts in different fields relating to ceramics. At the first meeting, it selects the artists who will be invited to exhibit. Then, on the first day of the exhibition, the jury examines the selected works on display, and awards "The Sarreguemines Grand Prix for Ceramics" (with a grant of FF.25,000).
The prize-winning work becomes the property of the Committee and is included in the collections of the Sarreguemines Museum.

AWARDS

Le Grand Prix de la Ville (Sarreguemines Grand Prize): prize amount FRF 25,000.
The Sarreguemines Grand Prize will be awarded to a functional and unique set of three vases. This set will be distinguished by its originality, novelty, innovative character (on the fringe of industrial production) as well as by its creativity and its creator's "savoir-faire", yet also the coherence of the variation of the three pieces making up a whole.
The pieces of work will be considered separately, for their own worth, by the panel of judges and then as a set of which each piece will constitute a variation of the theme.

Le Prix "de la Production de Série" (Mass Production Prize): prize amount FRF 10,000
The "Mass Production" prize-winning entry is in fact a prototype creation that could then be manufactured in limited or mass production by an "industrialist". The panel of judges will still place importance on a functional and original set and it will recognise its aesthetic qualities.
The aesthetics of the pieces must be in line with contemporary trends of decorative art; however, the technical solutions given by the creator to solve the problem of variations will also be a criterion of selection.

Le Prix "Jeune Céramiste"(Young Ceramist Prize): prize amount FRF 10,000
Aimed at the under 35's, its objective is to stimulate research as well as renewal of techniques, shapes and ways of expression.
As with the Sarreguemines Grand Prize, the Young Ceramist Prize will be awarded to a functional and unique set of three vases. This set will be distinguished by its originality, novelty, innovative character (on the fringe of industrial production) as well as by its creativity and its creator's "savoir-faire", yet also the coherence of the variation of the three pieces making up a whole.
The pieces of work will be considered separately, for their own worth, by the panel of judges and then as a set of which each piece will constitute a variation of the theme.

How to participate? Practical Information

Are you a ceramist and would you like to participate?

Download the complete rules and regulations (fichier MSWord 100Ko) and get in touch with

Concours International de Céramique de Sarreguemines
Museum of Sarreguemines - 15/17 rue Poincaré - 57200 Sarreguemines — France
Tél. +33 (0)3 87 98 93 50 – Fax +33 (0)3 87 98 37 28

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