What is the Mustaqbal Prize?
The Mustaqbal Prize is an annual competition aimed at promoting young contemporary creation. It is a competition exclusively for Moroccan artists or foreign artists residing in Morocco, whether formally trained or self-taught.
Since 2021, an expert jury carefully selects around ten talented artists, who are given the opportunity to exhibit their works at Artorium, the art space of the TGCC Foundation.
Registration open for the 2026 edition
Word from the chairwoman
For its sixth edition, Prix Mustaqbal, launched in 2021 by the Fondation TGCC, is presented under the name Momentum, a word imbued with rare density. Momentum refers both to the impulse that sets a body in motion and to the subtle moment when something shifts, reveals itself, or awakens.
In this tiny passage between what was and what could be, stands the artist. They work precisely where reality eludes us, where the senses seek form, where the invisible can still become visible. The artist is the one who agrees to venture into this fragile space: that of doubt, intuition, and inner drive, the space where the decisive moment of a work is created.
With Momentum, we celebrate this creative impulse, this movement that transforms intention into action. We celebrate that rare moment when the artist, aware of their era but free to follow their own path, invents a space to express, question, dream, or provoke.
Following the En.core edition, Prix Mustaqbal reminds us that every artistic journey begins with a movement, an impulse, a vibration. We encourage creators from all backgrounds—painters, photographers, draftsmen, sound artists, and installation practitioners—to seize this moment of openness, this moment when the possible work calls forth the work to come.
Since its creation, Prix Mustaqbal has supported a new generation of artists whose work questions our relationship with the contemporary world. While art may not always provide answers, it opens up new paths and areas of freedom, reminding us that creativity is a way of inhabiting the world with clarity, courage, and imagination.
With Momentum, we aim to provide a space where this moment of impulse becomes an opportunity, a springboard, a chance for visibility and sharing. A space where every young artist can transform this pivotal moment into a direction, an affirmation, a voice that unfolds.
May this edition be an opportunity for everyone to seize their own Momentum, that inner moment when we finally dare to think, “Now is when it all begins!”
This year also marks a major new milestone, with Prix Mustaqbal pairing up with Prix ellipse for their respective sixth editions. Created in 2021 by ellipse art projects endowment fund, Prix ellipse is a traveling competition that visits a different region each year. Working to promote the recognition of emerging artists, it encourages their mobility and highlights their artistic practices. After five editions organized in Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Senegal, and Ghana, Prix ellipse is setting its sights on Morocco in 2026.
Meryem Bouzoubaa
Présidente de la Fondation TGCC
About the prize
Aimed at emerging Moroccan artists or artists residing in Morocco, Fondation TGCC for Art and Culture is launching a call for applications for the sixth edition of Prix Mustaqbal. This annual competition aims to highlight emerging contemporary art.
Since its creation in 2021, a jury composed of artists, professionals, and art critics selects fifteen candidates to exhibit their works at Artorium, the foundation’s art space. Among these candidates, three artists are designated as winners. Each of the three winners receives a cash prize, paid in Moroccan dirhams (MAD). The first prize winner also benefits from an artist residency at Jardin Rouge, thanks to the support of the Montresso* Art Foundation, as well as two duo shows with the winner of Prix Ellipse, presented in Paris in the spring of 2027 and at Artorium in November of the same year.
In previous editions, Prix Mustaqbal has recognized promising artists such as:
- 2021: Khadija El Abyad, Khadija Jayi, Amina Azreg
- 2022: Mohamed Al Mahdi Ali Bouha, Mouad El Bissaoui, Malek Sordo
- 2023: Rida Tabit, Mehdi Ait El Mallali, Yassine Sellame
- 2024: Kamil Bouzoubaa Grivel, Yasmine Hadni, Kamil Tahiri
- 2025: Aymane El Gadi, Mouna Ahizoune, Louisa Ben.
Now in its sixth edition, the competition is open to amateur and professional artists aged 18 to 35 working in the mediums of drawing, painting, installation, photography, or sound. In keeping with previous editions, the competition does not set a theme, giving candidates the freedom to submit an existing or ongoing project to be developed for a solo exhibition in November 2027.
Artists will be preselected after their artistic portfolios have been reviewed. In the second phase, they will defend their applications to the jury. Approximately 15 finalists will be selected to exhibit their work at Artorium in September 2026. The winner of Prix Mustaqbal will be announced during this group exhibition.
Conditions of Participation
Selection criterias :
The selection criteria for the call for applications are as follows:
- Artists, whether trained or self-taught, aged 18 to 35, who are Moroccan or foreign nationals residing in Morocco.
- This edition is open to the following media: drawing, painting, installation, photography, and sound.
- The works submitted in the application must meet quality criteria and be related to the candidate’s portfolio and/or artistic project.
Application dates:
The call for applications is open from February 16 to May 16, 2026.
Application file:
All applications must include the following:
- A biographical text.
- A statement of intent, including the candidate’s artistic approach (motivation, cultural interest, references, etc.), written in French, Arabic, or English (maximum 1 page).
- A portfolio.
- An existing artistic project, mentioning the subject explored, the technique used, the project’s theme, as well as the works produced and/or a project proposal, which must be accompanied by sketches or drawings (maximum 1 page).
- Presentation files of 4 to 8 available works, in high quality: – High-resolution visuals for visual works (drawing, painting, photography, installation) – Audio files (WAV or MP3) for sound works – Video links (Vimeo, YouTube, or other platforms) for works requiring filmed documentation
- A duly completed and signed sworn statement.
Any incomplete application will be rejected.
Commitments :
The winner of Prix Mustaqbal must sign a one-year contract with Fondation TGCC. This contract stipulates that:
- The first winner must participate in an artist residency at Jardin Rouge, invited by Montresso* Art Foundation, during the current year.
- The three winners must be available to create content for Prix Mustaqbal’s social media channels (studio visits, interviews, etc.).
- The three winners must also participate in round tables, debates at the Espace d’Art Artorium, and workshops with children.
Image rights and authorization for use:
The works remain the sole property of the applicant. The artist certifies and guarantees that their works are original creations and do not infringe any copyright or intellectual property rights. The applicant authorizes the Fondation TGCC to use reproductions of the works in the Foundation’s programs and communication tools.
Personal data :
The data collected will be processed electronically. In accordance with Law No. 09-08 on the protection of personal data, candidates have the right to access, obtain information about, rectify, and, where applicable, object to the data concerning them.