The next Open Call starts on April 22, 2025!

“State of the ART(ist)” focuses on artists who face threats to their existence. These threats may come in the form of repression or political persecution by unjust regimes or democratically legitimized governments. They may also face danger due to open hostilities, loss of livelihood from environmental disasters or natural catastrophes, and precarious living conditions due to exploitation.

“The brutal war of aggression against Ukraine and the repression against artists in Russia show that freedom of artistic expression cannot be taken for granted everywhere.
Together with Ars Electronica, we are sending a signal of solidarity and offering artists a space for their work that is denied to them elsewhere. In this way, we are creating an international platform to strengthen freedom of expression.”

Alexander Schallenberg, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Austria

“State of the ART(ist)” includes an Open Call as well as a presentation of the winning projects at the Ars Electronica Festival – September 3 to 7, 2025. The project is a collaboration between Ars Electronica and the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.