Rules: thesis prize

This thesis prize aims to encourage the emergence of scientific work on contemporary and current ceramics, whatever the original academic discipline. Every two years, the prize will be awarded for doctoral research contributing to the development of the field, with support for the publication of the thesis in the «Céramiques contemporaines et actuelles» collections published by Presses Universitaires du Septentrion.

Study topics will cover the period from 1880 to the present day, covering all territories. However, depending on the perspective of the study and its contribution to knowledge of contemporary and current periods, research on earlier periods may be considered. Theses that have not recently been defended, and which may not have found the circumstances necessary for publication, may also be considered.

This thesis prize will be awarded by Presses Universitaires du Septentrion in partnership with C14 PARIS - Salon de céramiques contemporaines and Keramis - Centre de la céramique - La Louvière, Belgium.

Article 1 - Nature of theses

The thesis will focus on contemporary and current ceramics, whatever the original academic discipline. Every two years, the prize will be awarded to a doctoral thesis whose quality and originality contribute to the further development of the field.

Article 2 - Award conditions

Theses must be written in French. Candidates, of French or foreign nationality, must have defended their thesis in the three calendar years preceding the year in which the prize is awarded.

Candidates who were unsuccessful in one of the jury's selections may reapply, subject to the above conditions.

Article 3 - Price description

It will be presented at the Salon C14-Paris during the Salon's opening evening, in the first week of October at the Annexe de la Mairie du 14e, 12 rue Pierre Castagnou, 75014 Paris.

It is honored by the publication of the winner's thesis by Presses Universitaires du Septentrion within a year.

As part of the prize, PUS will donate one-third of the amount requested for the publication of a thesis defended less than four years ago. This contribution is valid for a work in 16 x 24 cm format, in black and white, not exceeding 700,000 signs.

The initial cost of publishing a thesis at PUS is €3,000, so this sum has been reduced to €2,000. In addition, the partner research laboratory, the CRAE of the Université de Picardie Jules Verne, is offering the sum of €500. The publication of a winning thesis therefore requires a contribution of €1,500.

If the prizewinner's thesis requires the addition of non-rights-free reproduction rights, color illustrations and/or layout work by an external graphic designer, these costs will be added to the €1,500.

The 700,000 signage limit cannot be exceeded without additional financing. If this is the case, the requested contribution will be re-evaluated via quotation.

The winner will be expected to meet the scientific requirements of the PUS, by committing to the proposed publication schedule, making the necessary adaptations and corrections to the manuscript as soon as possible, and providing the documents required during the publication process.

Article 4 - Composition of the jury

The jury is made up of four ex officio members, directors of the PUS «Céramiques contemporaines et actuelles» collection:

Stéphanie Le Follic-Hadida is a graduate of the École du Louvre and holds a PhD in art history on 19th-20th-century sculpture. Specializing in contemporary ceramics, she is an author and exhibition curator. She is secretary of the C14 PARIS association.

Elisabeth Piot is a lecturer in visual arts (UFR Arts, Université de Picardie Jules Verne), a member of the CRAE UR 4291 laboratory and director of the «Arts, Culture matérielle et Patrimoines» library at Presses Universitaires du Septentrion.

Ludovic Recchia is an art historian specializing in modern and contemporary ceramics. Curator of Decorative Arts at the Musée Royal de Mariemont (Belgium) from 2003 to 2022, he is currently Director and Curator of Keramis - Centre de la Céramique in La Louvière, an institution he helped found in 2015. He is also President of the C14 PARIS association.

Arnaud Timbert is University Professor of Art History (UFR Arts, Université de Picardie Jules Verne), Director of the TrAme UR 4284 laboratory and Scientific Director of Presses Universitaires du Septentrion.

The jury also includes advisory members: teacher-researchers, lecturers, university professors and curators.

The list of jury members is available on the C14 and PUS websites.

Article 5 - Prize calendar

Call publication: May 15, 2026
Application deadline: June 30, 2026 (submission via C14 website)
Expertise: June 30 to September 1, 2026
Promulgation of results and launch of publication process: October 1, 2026
Award ceremony: opening night of Salon C14, October 1, 2026
In N+1: presentation of the thesis published on Salon C14 in October of the following year.

Article 6 - Application procedures

To apply for the prize, submit an application before June 30, 2026 via the online form.

The file, in PDF format, must include :

A letter of application addressed to the jury members
Doctoral thesis submitted to the jury
Thesis defense report
A sales pitch, a table of contents, a brief description of the work (size, number of images)
Candidate's curriculum vitae

Article 7 - Thesis appraisal procedures

Each thesis will be appraised by jury members using the PUS appraisal grid. Each thesis will be examined in depth by a minimum of two proofreaders, both members of the jury and specialists in the subject.

Article 8 - Publication of prize-winning theses

The winner undertakes to meet the requirements of Presses Universitaires du Septentrion for submission of the manuscript. These requirements can be consulted at the following address: https://www.septentrion.com/fr/notes/

On average, it takes 12 to 18 months for a manuscript to be published. On the date the results are announced, the winner undertakes to submit the manuscript within a maximum of one year.

After this deadline, the aforementioned conditions for publication of the prize-winning thesis will lapse.

Rules of procedure: Thesis prizes