Organizer Information
The un—realized Art Prize is a newly established Swiss art award founded by the Stiftung Bilas, a Bern-based foundation that supports contemporary art, culture, social projects, and animal welfare. Founded with the aim of bridging a gap in artistic funding, this prize emphasizes the conceptual phase of artistic creation—recognizing the value of ideas and unrealized projects as independent artistic contributions. The award’s initiation reflects the foundation’s commitment to enabling artists to develop creative concepts, focusing on experimentation and the conceptual roots of art practice.
Title & Description
un—realized Art Prize 2026 — Call for Unrealized Artistic Projects
This national art call invites professional artists and artist collectives based in Switzerland to submit unrealized artistic concepts—projects that exist primarily as ideas, sketches, research material, models, or proposals yet to be fully realized. Rather than demanding fully executed works, the prize celebrates the potential of artistic imagination and conceptual exploration as essential components of cultural production. The competition foregrounds art as an evolving, speculative practice where ideas are valued on their own terms.
Categories
This competition explicitly embraces the broad field of visual and conceptual art, including but not limited to:
- Conceptual Art
- Drawing & Sketches
- Models & Proposals
- Research Materials
- Installation Concepts
- Multimedia Concepts
- Performance Ideas (documented)
- Mixed-media Concepts
- Other forms of unrealized artistic practice
The central criterion is that submissions be conceptual or in early phase prior to full material realization.
Eligibility
- Professional artists and collectives must be based in or primarily working in Switzerland.
- Unrealized projects may be submitted; these ideas should not yet have been fully created or executed.
- Open to creators across disciplines as long as the submission aligns with the conceptual requirements.
Program Benefits & Awards
Prize Structure:
- CHF 20,000 awarded to the winning project for both the idea and its realization.
- Four projects receive CHF 3,000 each as recognition of outstanding conceptual strength.
Exhibition & Presentation:
- The selected projects, including the realized winning submission, are presented publicly at Kunsthalle Bern as part of a formal exhibition and award ceremony.
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
Applicants must submit an online nomination package including:
- Title and description of the conceptual project.
- Personal information (name, contact, biography).
- Visual or textual materials representing the idea (e.g., sketch, text, models).
- Any supporting documentation that clarifies the scope and potential of the unrealized concept.
Specific file and formatting requirements are detailed on the official submission platform.
How to Apply
Online Submission
Key Dates
- Submission Deadline: 14 February 2026
- Jury Evaluation: March 2026
- Shortlist Announcement: April 2026
- Award & Presentation: 27 August 2026 at Kunsthalle Bern (public exhibition and ceremony)
Location
Bern, Switzerland
Additional Details
- This competition fills a unique niche by celebrating conceptual artistic promise rather than finished work.
- Projects may range from theoretical constructs to early-stage frameworks that demonstrate aesthetic or intellectual potential.
- Participation enhances visibility within Switzerland’s contemporary art scene and supports experimental practices.