Deadline: 28-Jun-23

The Maison Rousseau et Littérature (MRL) is seeking applications for its international and interdisciplinary competition under the project entitled “A social contract for the 21st century”.

The project “A social contract for the 21st century” was initiated by the MRL and the Domaine de Villette Foundation and is supported by the latter.

This international, interdisciplinary competition aims to promote projects that examine the Social Contract in light of contemporary crises and draft a design for tomorrow. By investigating avenues for a new social order serving the general interest, this competition should facilitate a collective rethinking of ecology, public health, participatory democracy, social justice, and any other key global factors, creating substantial impetus for a new model of society. Based on a theme crucial to Rousseau – contract, obligation, common good, public interest, citizenship, amour des lois, governmentality, property, security, corruption, secularism – entries to this competition, individual or collective, may come in any form, using any medium: theoretical text, work of art, film, practical project, etc.

Prize Details

• A prize of $20,000 for participants ages 25 and younger
• A prize of $20,000 for participants over age 25
• The awards will provide participants with the time and resources to formulate innovative and relevant proposals that respond to their contemporary context of crisis and instability. One of the competition’s main objectives will be to present the best projects to a national and international audience, both to share the results of this collective commitment and to encourage future generations to commit to a free participatory and inclusive society.

Conditions for Participation 

This initiative aims to encourage the highest possible public engagement with contemporary and future societal issues. It is open to young people and adults, artists, academics, interdisciplinary research groups, associations, NGOs, schools, and anyone else who is interested.

For more information, visit Maison Rousseau et Littérature.