Marca Corona 2026-2027 Award: open call for young artists and designers under 35
Now in its fifth edition, this year’s theme will be “Segni Comuni” (Shared Signs). The mark that leaves a trace, the word that creates a bond and the relationship taking shape through ceramic. Applications are open until 11th January 2027.
Are you under 35 and working in art or design? This opportunity is looking for you!
The Premio Marca Corona award is back for its fifth edition, seeking fresh creative voices in Italy and abroad. If you have an idea for an artwork to be brought to life in ceramic, this is your chance. Entry to the contest is completely free.
Where industry meets art: Marca Corona and emerging talent
Founded in 1741, Marca Corona is the oldest ceramic manufacturer in the Sassuolo district. Over time, it has repeatedly collaborated with visionary artists who marked new stylistic eras in its production. Since 2022, the Marca Corona per l’Arte project has carried this legacy into the present alongside prominent figures from the international contemporary art scene. The Award is the initiative created specifically for the next generation. The leading figure of this edition is Marinella Senatore, with the “Materia Comune” exhibition curated by Mariacristina Ferraioli.
The Theme: Shared Signs
Drawing inspiration from Marinella Senatore’s work, participating artists are invited to design a ceramic piece that gives form to human relationships and collaborative processes. This aligns with the artist’s philosophy that every handcrafted item preserves the mark of gestures and knowledge passed down through generations. Projects can focus on:
- shared community practices: from the transfer of skills across generations to collective work, care, and daily rituals;
- the sign as an imprint and the physical embodiment of a gesture;
- the word, interpreted in a graphic, textual, or poetic sense;
- the tangible and intangible heritage of Marca Corona and the Sassuolo region, spanning manufacturing history, artisan craft knowledge and manufacturing processes.
Submissions must be two-dimensional, with a maximum size of 100×250 cm. The design may be produced by any graphic design technique and then digitalised, provided that the work is conceived from the outset to actually be produced in ceramic in association with the company. The total size of 100×250 cm refers to the maximum overall size of a single subject. In the case of multiple subjects, the proposal may not exceed a maximum of 40 individual, distinct subjects.
How to apply
Applications open on 9th October 2026. The contest is aimed at Italian and international artists and designers aged between 18 and 34.
Requirements, necessary documentation and application details are outlined in the official rules, which you can download from the dedicated page. Applications must be submitted exclusively online using the application form.
The Premio Marca Corona 2026-2027 award schedule
You can submit your application until midnight on 11th January 2027. By the end of January, the jury will select the 5 finalists. The award ceremony will take place on 5th February 2027 in Bologna during Art City Bologna, presented live before the public and jury. The contest is organised in collaboration with R&P Contemporary Art.
Prizes
- €1,500 cash prize for the winner;
- an artist residency hosted at the company premises;
- the production of the winning project s a ceramic artwork.
Craftsmanship, business and contemporary art work side-by-side, adding each winning project to the creative journey that the company has been building for nearly 300 years.
