ABOUT THE PRIX POWERHOUSE

CONSULT THE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: 2026 PRIX POWERHOUSE

The PRIX POWERHOUSE is a $14,000 biennial recognition award shared between two Montréal visual artists to celebrate their artistic journey. It is destined to women and gender-diverse artists who have reached the mid-stage in their career and contribute in a significant way to Montréal’s cultural life. This award honors artists who show perseverance and who continue their work by remaining committed in their approach. La Centrale would like to acknowledge the generous contribution of an anonymous donor who, since 2011, has made this award possible.

The award dovetails within La Centrale’s mandate to promote feminist artistic practices and to support under-represented artists in dominant cultural institutions. The centre is a platform for languages in contemporary art carried by feminisms, intersectionality and social justice.

The artist must be nominated by a third party. The person nominating the artist must be the one to fill out the form mentioned above.

 Award Objectives

• Support mid-staged or established artists ;
• Recognize the strength and singularity of an artistic practice that is influent, but under-represented ;
• Promote the work of two Montréal artists by providing a punctual financial support and by holding a joint exhibition at La Centrale ;
• Celebrate the contribution of artists who identify as women or gender-diverse people to Montréal's cultural environment.

Award description

• A 7000$ grant given to each winner
• A joint retrospective exhibition at La Centrale, between 6-8 weeks, with artist fees (CARFAC rates)
• An awards ceremony on the opening night of the exhibition

Admissibility of the nominated artist*

• An artist aged 37 and over who identifies as a woman or a gender-diverse person**;
• An artist in visual art, media art, audio art, performance or installation, including transdisciplinary practices (please note that artists who have a career exclusively in music are not eligible to this prize) ;
• Lives in the Greater Montréal Area by the time of the nomination ;
• Pursues a professional artistic career in a sustained way for at least ten years ;
• Supports an original and influential artistic practice under-represented in dominant cultural institutions.

* The artist must be nominated by a third party. Members of the Administration Board and La Centrale workers are not eligible for the award.

**The umbrella term "gender-diverse" refers to people whose gender identity expand beyond the binary or exist within and at the intersections of it, such as trans, non-binary, Two-Spirits, gender fluid or agender people (amongst others). 

History

2011

The Prix Powerhouse is created thanks to the endeavour of an anonymous donor who wishes to collaborate with La Centrale to offer a recognition prize to mid-career or established artists who identify as women * and whose works are under-represented in the dominant cultural institutions.

An external jury selects 3 finalists and La Centrale’s members vote for the winner.

In 2011, the Prix Powerhouse of 5,000$ was awarded to Aude Moreau, selected among 2 other finalists (Marie-Claude Bouthillier and Marie-France Brière) during an award ceremony at La Centrale on June 29th, 2011.

Aude Moreau's work is then presented at La Centrale on January 28th and 29th, 2012.

Halfway between a workshop and an exhibition visit, this event is designed as an occasion to exchange, discover and discuss the work of the laureate.

2012

In 2012, the 5,000$ Prix Powerhouse was awarded to Karen Elaine Spencer, selected among 2 other finalists (Manuela Lalic and Monique Moumblow) during an award ceremony at La Centrale on June 28th, 2012.

2013

In 2013, the 5,000$ Prix Powerhouse was awarded to Catherine Bolduc, selected among 2 other finalists (Thérèse Mastroiacovo and Nadia Myre), during an award ceremony at La Centrale on June 20th, 2013.

2014

In 2014, the 5,000$ Prix Powerhouse was awarded to Dayna McLeod, selected among 3 other finalists (Manuela Lalic, Renée Lavaillante and Jake Moore) during an award ceremony at La Centrale on October 22nd, 2014.

Dayna McLeod's work is presented at La Centrale as part of a ten days exhibition from October 15th to 24th, 2014.

At this edition, It is decided that the Prix Powerhouse will become a biennial award.

2016

In 2016, the donor improved the grant to 10,000$. The workers, members and donor choose to divide the award between three artists.

The prize is awarded to kimura byol-nathalie lemoine, Manon Labrecque and Alexis O’Hara who each receive 3,333$ during an award ceremony at La Centrale on October 7th, 2016.

The work of kimura byol-nathalie lemoine, Manon Labrecque and Alexis O'Hara is presented at La Centrale as part of a four weeks joint exhibition which takes place from September 9th to October 7th, 2016.

For the next edition, the workers, members and donor choose to divide the prize between two artists.

2018

The 10,000$ prize is awarded to Helena Martin Franco, and Victoria Stanton, during an award ceremony at La Centrale on November 16th, 2018.

The work of Helena Martin Franco and Victoria Stanton is presented at La Centrale as part of a three weeks joint exhibition from November 16th to December 7th, 2018, preceded by an artist’s residency.

The award adapts to La Centrale's mandate over the years by following the evolution of its reflections on the inclusion of gender minorities and incorporates inclusive language in its communications.

2020

The laureates of the Prix Powerhouse 2020 are Jenny Lin and Shanna Strauss. Due to the peculiar context of the pandemic, the award ceremony takes place online on November 20, 2020. The artists have the opportunity to work together during an artistic residency, taking place online in the form of activities shared with the public. Their duo exhibition, We are wary, we are weary, takes place in La Centrale's window showcase, from November 20 to December 12, 2020. 

2022

In 2022, the $10,000 prize is shared between Maria Ezcurra and Winnie Ho. Their work is shown in the exhibition Body activates, material transforms, on view from April 26 to May 11, 2022. The award ceremony takes place on April 26, 2022.

The centre's co-direction team decide that for each new edition of the prize, one of the previous year's winners will be invited to join the jury.

2024

In 2024, the $10,000 Prix Powerhouse is awarded to artists Lynn Kodeih and Natacha Clitandre, selected by a jury composed of Deanna Bowen, Julia Eilers-Smith, and Maria Ezcurra. Their work is highlighted in the exhibition All that remains, on view from September 6 to October 19, 2024. The opening reception and awards ceremony are held on September 6, 2024, and a discussion with jury member Julia Eilers-Smith takes place on September 28, 2024.

The Prix Powerhouse welcomes a new visual identity made by the graphic designer Isadora-Ayesha Lima. 

2026

Following the decision of the anonymous donor who has been supporting the Prize since 2011, the prize money is raised to $14,000, shared between two Montréal artists.