To reward the work of women artists¹ on the French scene, to respond to the lack of visibility in France and abroad, and to highlight their works and the longevity of their careers, beyond stereotypes: these are the objectives of the AWARE prizes. Through these prizes, AWARE is committed to supporting the laureates over the long term, through the creation of publications, exhibitions and offering production assistance.

The AWARE prizes for women artists were created in 2016 to tackle the inequality in contemporary art awards and prizes. While the situation has improved in recent years, particularly for emerging artists who now benefit from more support, promotion and visibility, women artists are still largely underrepresented among prizewinners. Conscious of the changing needs of women artists, AWARE reimagined one of its prizes in 2022. The emerging artists’ prize evolved to reward mid-career artists, who are currently less supported by existing prizes and the art world in general. More than just a symbolic recognition of their career paths, the Nouveau Regard prize is an unprecedented opportunity to open new horizons for the development of the artists’ careers and to promote their work internationally.

Thanks to the support of CHANEL, the winner of the Nouveau Regard prize benefits from a residency organised in partnership with the Villa Albertine, a French cultural institution in the United States that hosts 60 residencies throughout the United States each year, and the A.I.R. Gallery in New York. The A.I.R. Gallery, a historic feminist venue that dedicated an exhibition to French women artists curated by Aline Dallier in 1976, will accompany the laureate throughout her stay in the United States by organising visits and meetings with curators, art critics, curators, gallery owners and journalists. Once the artist returns to France, AWARE will contact French art centres to co-produce a personal exhibition of the artist’s work in France. As part of its partnership with AWARE, the Cnap (Centre national des arts plastiques) will offer the winner of the Nouveau Regard prize the acquisition of works that will enter its collection.

The winner of the Outstanding Merit prize 2023 will receive a €10,000 grant, thanks to the continued support of the French Ministry of Culture. In partnership with Manuella Éditions, AWARE will publish a book-length interview with the artist, documenting her contribution to the history of art of the twentieth century and allowing her to reflect on her career in her own words.

Once again in 2023, four commissioners – active professionals from the world of culture: art historians, critics, curators – have each shortlisted a pair of artists, nominated respectively for the Nouveau Regard prize (mid-career artists) and the Outstanding Merit prize (women artists with careers of 40 years or more). The commissioners – Kuralai Abdukhalikova, Théo-Mario Coppola, Danilo Lovisi and Salma Mochtari – will present and defend the artists’ work before a jury composed of seven major figures from the world of art and culture. The jurywill be chaired in 2023 by Alexia Fabre (Director of the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris) and composed of : Camille Morineau (co-founder and Director of Research at AWARE), Joanna Mytkowska (Director of the Museum of Modern Art in Warsaw), Hélène Nguyen-Ban (founder and CEO of Docent), Émilie Renard (Director of Bétonsalon – centre d’art et de recherche), Béatrice Salmon (director of the Cnap, Centre national des arts plastiques) and Claire Tancons (independent exhibition curator and researcher).

The selection of nominees was confirmed on 1 November 2022.