Organizer Information
The Observatoire de l’Espace is the cultural laboratory of the Centre national d'études spatiales (CNES), France’s national space agency. Since its establishment in 2000, the Observatoire has developed an innovative interdisciplinary approach that bridges space science and contemporary artistic creation. It invites artists, writers, and researchers to explore and reinterpret the cultural, philosophical, and imaginative dimensions of outer space.
Through research programs, residencies, publications, and artistic commissions, the Observatoire de l’Espace fosters new narratives around space exploration. Its contemporary art collection—hosted since 2017 at Les Abattoirs, Musée – Frac Occitanie Toulouse—includes a wide range of works such as installations, videos, and photographic projects that critically engage with humanity’s relationship to space. The Avant-Poste program is one of its flagship initiatives, supporting experimental artistic production in direct connection with space environments.
Title & Description
Avant-Poste Programme 2026 – Zero Gravity Artistic Creation Call
The Avant-Poste Programme 2026 invites artists to develop an original artwork in conditions of microgravity, created during a parabolic flight aboard the Airbus ZERO-G operated by CNES. This unique open call offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with the physical and perceptual experience of weightlessness, where each parabola provides approximately 22 seconds of microgravity.
The thematic focus of this edition is “Weightlessness as Enigma”, encouraging artists to explore the conceptual, cognitive, and sensory complexities of experiencing zero gravity. Rather than producing literal representations, selected artists are expected to develop a conceptual artistic response to the disorienting and ineffable nature of weightlessness—an experience that challenges language, perception, and human understanding.
Artists will create or initiate their work within the aircraft’s “free-floating” zone during the flight. This space becomes both a studio and a performative environment, where the constraints of physics, safety, and temporality shape the artistic process. The resulting artwork will be presented in a public exhibition and subsequently acquired for the Observatoire de l’Espace’s permanent collection.
This call represents a highly experimental intersection between art, science, and technology, offering a platform for artists interested in pushing the boundaries of artistic production in extreme and unconventional environments.
Categories
- Visual Art
- Installation
- Sculpture
- Video / Film
- Sound Art
- Multimedia / Interdisciplinary Practices
Eligibility
- Open to French and European artists
- Applicants must be professional artists aged 18 or older
- Must demonstrate an established artistic practice
- Fluency in French is mandatory (all communication and documentation)
- Artists must be able to attend meetings in Paris and participate fully in the program schedule
- Must be physically fit for participation in a parabolic flight (subject to medical approval)
Program Benefits & Awards
- Total funding of €2,500:
- €1,000 for artistic conception and production
- €1,500 for the acquisition of the final artwork
- Participation in a parabolic flight aboard Airbus ZERO-G
- Coverage of:
- Flight costs
- Travel within mainland France
- Accommodation during the flight campaign
- Technical feasibility study support
- Exhibition opportunity presenting the final work to the public
- Inclusion in a prestigious institutional art collection
- High-level visibility within the intersection of art and space research
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Completed and signed the application form
- Detailed project proposal (concept, production method, and public presentation format)
- Artistic portfolio with previous works
- Updated CV
- All documents must be dated and signed
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted via email or file transfer (e.g., WeTransfer) to: appels.observatoire.espace@gmail.com
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 27 April 2026
- Preselection & Interviews: May 2026
- Winner Announcement: June 2026
- Technical Development Phase: July 2026
- Flight Campaign: October 2026
- Exhibition: Following project completion (date TBC)
Location
Paris, France
Additional Details
- The selected artist will participate in one parabolic flight and work independently on board
- The artist will have exclusive access to the free-floating zone for a limited number of parabolas
- Strict safety regulations apply regarding materials and equipment
- Liquids, gases, and hazardous objects are restricted unless properly secured
- The artwork must be unique and cannot be reproduced or duplicated
- The Observatoire retains ownership of the final work
- If the project does not meet expectations, it may not be exhibited or acquired
- Artists must adhere strictly to the program timeline and participate in all required meetings and public presentations