The Cercle Artistique de Luxembourg (CAL) will soon celebrate its 125th anniversary at Cercle Cité, with an academic session in the presence of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke, political authorities, city councilors and local artists.
Founded in 1893 by a group of painters and sculptors under the name of Kunstverein, the CAL was born at the Grand Café on Place d'Armes in Luxembourg City. Throughout history, the CAL has made its mark on the evolution of the arts in Luxembourg. Under the patronage of Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess, its mission is to make the public aware of the values of art and stimulate exchanges between the actors in the field while encouraging national or Luxembourg artists residing abroad in their creative work.
At the forefront of the CAL's recurring activities, the annual Salon du Cercle Artistique de Luxembourg testifies to the incredible diversity and abundance of Luxembourgish artistic production. This year, the Salon will be held from 9-15 November 2018 at Tramsschapp, Luxembourg-Limpertsberg, as part of the Luxembourg Art Week. Similarly, the Prix Grand-Duc Adolphe, created in 1902, rewards every two years the best work of art exhibited at the Salon. The prize has been awarded 80 times in its history. The last winners were Carine Kraus and Isabelle Lutz in 2015 and Miikka Heinonen in 2017.
Moreover, the Prix Pierre Werner, also awarded every two years, is awarded to a work exhibited at the Salon, whether the artist is a CAL member or not. The prize was awarded in 2014 to Kathrin Elsen and Michèle Tonteling and to Kingsley Ogwara in 2016. Finally, the Prix de Révélation is awarded every two years to an artist exhibiting at the Salon aged 35 or under. The laureates of this prize were Yann Annicchiarico in 2015 and Nina Tomàs in 2017. Next year will see even more awards added, including the Prix de la Sculpture, organised in partnership with the City of Esch-sur-Alzette and the Galerie Schlassgoart.
On the occasion of its 125th anniversary, a book retracing the evolution of the plastic arts in Luxembourg has been published. It thus completes the book published 25 years ago during the celebration of its 100th anniversary. "CAL 125 ans - Les années de 1993 à 2018", written by the historian Carole Jung in collaboration with Paul Bertemes and Serge Koch, gives pride of place to the actors and events of the artistic world of Luxembourg: the CAL and the Salons, but also the artists, the different prizes and the winners of these distinctions. This book also presents the portrait of 73 artists who joined the CAL since 1993. In parallel, the film "125 Joer CAL – en Ausbléck", directed by Frank Rosch, presents interviews with the artists Robert Brandy, Miikka Heinonen, Carine Kraus, Isabelle Lutz and Bertrand Ney as well as with young visual artists not yet members of the CAL. Finally, POST Philately has published a stamp highlighting the ongoing efforts of the CAL to promote 125 years of artistic creation in Luxembourg.
Looking forward, the CAL will move its headquarters to the outskirts of St. Michel islet in Luxembourg City next year. The organisation is also modernising its activities to support all the changes that mark the rise of the visual arts and strengthen its role as a platform for promoting creativity not only in Luxembourg but also across borders. A documentation centre and a lexicon of visual artists will complement the efforts made in Luxembourg, ensuring that all forms of visual art are documented and that the creations of the past can be identified and preserved.
