Organizer Information
Café SATI, in collaboration with European art schools and cultural partners, organizes Les Talents SATI, a long-running cross-border art competition launched in 2013. The initiative is rooted in the company’s commitment to bridging contemporary art, industry, and urban space through public interventions at its roasting plant located at the Rhine port between Kehl (Germany) and Strasbourg (France).
Over the years, Les Talents SATI has evolved into a recognized platform for emerging artists from Belgium, France, Germany, and Switzerland, offering a unique intersection between artistic experimentation and industrial infrastructure. The program is curated with the support of a professional jury composed of cultural, artistic, and economic experts, reinforcing its position as a high-visibility European Art Competition and production platform for large-scale public works.
Title & Description
Les Talents SATI 2026 – International Art Competition for Emerging Artists
Les Talents SATI is an annual cross-border Art Competition inviting emerging artists and collectives to propose large-scale public artworks for the façade of the Café SATI roasting plant. Each edition results in one winning project being fully produced and exhibited in public space, transforming an industrial building into a monumental site for contemporary Public Art.
The 2026 edition revolves around the theme “Centenary”, an open conceptual framework reflecting on long-term temporalities, memory, transformation, and transmission. The theme intentionally avoids formal constraints, allowing artists to interpret it through symbolic, material, fictional, historical, or abstract approaches. It invites reflection on what persists over time, what disappears, and how cultural or industrial histories shape collective memory.
The selected project will be installed on a massive façade measuring 19.80 x 6.80 meters, offering exceptional visibility at a European industrial and cultural crossroads.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Public Art
- Installation
- Painting
- Digital / Multimedia
- Graphic
- Photography
- Video/Film
- Site-specific
- Mixed Media
- Interdisciplinary Arts
Eligibility
- Open to emerging artists and collectives
- Applicants must be enrolled in or recently graduated from partner art schools in:
- France
- Germany
- Belgium
- Switzerland
- At least one member of each collective must:
- Have graduated within the last 5 years, or
- Be currently enrolled in a partner institution
- International collaboration is allowed within the eligibility framework
- Focus on early-career artistic development
Program Benefits & Awards
- €4,000 Award/Prize (rights purchase for winning project)
- Full production funding, including fabrication, installation, and maintenance
- Large-scale public installation displayed for one year
- €500 Award/Prize for each of the three shortlisted projects
- Travel costs covered for pitching session in Strasbourg
- Professional production support, including technical supervision and installation assistance
- Mentorship and pitch coaching by production experts
- High-visibility public exposure at a cross-border cultural site
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Artist or collective CV/presentation
- Project description (500–600 words maximum, 1 A4 page)
- Visual documentation (sketches, mockups, photos, or video stills) in A3 PDF format
- Technical and conceptual presentation aligned with façade installation requirements
- Optional additional supporting material, depending on project complexity
Upon registration, participants receive:
- Photos, videos, 3D models, and façade documentation
- Technical guidelines and spatial references
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 3 May 2026
- Jury Selection (Shortlist phase): May 2026
- Final Pitch Session: 29 May 2026 (Strasbourg, France)
- Public Installation: Early September (year of production cycle indicated in program timeline)
Location
Strasbourg, France
Additional Details
- No technical restrictions on artistic medium or production technique
- Final work must be designed for a large-scale façade display
- Production is supported by professional fabrication teams
- Jury includes representatives from cultural, artistic, and economic sectors across Europe
- Theme “Centenary” is intentionally open-ended and non-restrictive
- Emphasis on boldness, experimentation, and public engagement
- Strong focus on professionalization of emerging artists through real production experience