The Prix de Rome is one of the oldest and most prestigious prizes in architecture, first established in France in 1663 and adopted in Canada in 1987 to recognize outstanding achievement in Canadian architecture. The Professional Prix de Rome in Architecture, administered by Canada Council for the Arts, is a prize that is awarded annually to a Canadian architecture firm that has demonstrated exceptional artistic potential. It encourages the development of artistic excellence in contemporary architectural practice by supporting prize recipients to travel the world to develop their skills and creative practice through research and study, to work with specialists worldwide, and to strengthen their position in a global architectural context.