Fertility Performance / Nina Bulgakova (UA), Anastasiia Mostova (UA), Kateryna Zhuravlova (UA), Photo: Leo Ollikainen
State of the ART(ist) – Cultural Diplomacy and the Freedom of Art
State of the ART(ist) is aimed at artists working under existential threat – be it through political repression, war, surveillance or social inequality. The initiative highlights the urgency of the drastic situation for artists in many countries in order to raise the global question of where political influence and aggression prevent artists from fulfilling their important role for and in society.
In a time of escalating crises, State of the ART(ist) 2025 explores the intersections of art, activism and resistance. The initiative creates a space in which artistic expression acts as both documentation and intervention. The focus is on artists who are exposed to systemic threats, question dominant narratives and open up new avenues for social debate.
The aim is to make visible and support those whose artistic work is endangered by political repression, social inequality, war, environmental disasters or the effects of digital surveillance. In addition to financial support, the initiative offers visibility, international networking and digital and physical presentation opportunities – including as part of the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz.
A particular focus is on the contribution of art to international understanding and cultural diplomacy: State of the ART(ist) sees itself as a long-term offer for artists in danger and as a call for global solidarity through the language of art.
2025 Open Call
The next Open Call starts on April 22, 2025!
Projects can be submitted by artists whose livelihoods are severely affected by the effects of the following threatening situations:
- Conflict zones and political persecution where artists are exposed to censorship, displacement or violence.
- Restrictions on freedom of expression where social and cultural repression limits creative autonomy.
- Environmental crises where climate change and ecological destruction threaten communities and artistic ecosystems.
- Economic and systemic exploitation, where working conditions, resource extraction and global inequalities affect artistic freedom of action.
The prize is aimed exclusively at artists who find themselves in situations and places that can be directly linked to the above criteria and whose individual life situation is therefore characterised by “uncertainty” and “risk”. The answer to the question “What is Risk?” becomes a basic requirement for a valid submission. However, this aspect does not constitute an evaluation criterion for the jury. The jury’s work and the selection of the winners will be based exclusively on the artistic quality of the submitted works.
The State of the ART(ist) initiative is looking for (collective) works, projects and actions at the intersection of art and human rights. (Micro-)performances, pop-up grassroots movements (whether active or inactive), social software, AI projects as well as (e)rights or advocacy projects can be submitted. There are no restrictions regarding formats. Commercial or propagandistic projects are excluded from participation in the competition. The focus is on the message and activity rather than on the tools and materials used to express it.
Individuals as well as collectives can submit: Artists, creatives, curators, writers, critics, scientists, entrepreneurs, associations, public institutions, NGOs, or private enterprises (not limited to), no matter if individuals or groups, can enter the open call.
Anonymous submissions are possible: Submissions can be either personalized or anonymous. We only require an e-mail address as contact.
What the winners can expect
Prize money
- 1 Main prize: The winning project receives €6,000 in prize money.
- 2 Awards of Distinction: The two winning projects will each receive €2,000 in prize money.
- 7 Honorary Mentions
Photo showing: Nina Bulgakova (Winner State of the ART(ist) 2024, Fertility Performance) and Christoph Thun-Hohenstein, Photo: tom mesic
Virtual Kunsthalle
10 selected projects will be presented in the virtual Kunsthalle, a dedicated online platform that also serves as a documentation archive and action space for artistic freedom.
Photo: Ars Electronica
Exhibition at the Ars Electronica Festival
The main winning project as well as selected works by the Award of Distinction winners and the Honorary Mentions will be shown in a physical exhibition at the Ars Electronica Festival 2025, which takes place from September 3 to 7 in Linz, Austria.
Photo: The Queer Muslim Project / Rafiul Alom Rahman (IN), Rachita Sai Barak (IN), Maniza Khalid (IN), Photo: tom mesic
Invitation to the Ars Electronica Festival
Selected artists will be invited to attend the festival in Linz, gaining access to key industry professionals and expanding their networks within a dynamic and engaged artistic community.
State of the ART(ist) Talks at POSTCITY, Photo: vog.photo
Ars Electronica Archive
All works will be included in the Ars Electronica Archive, one of the world’s most comprehensive archives for digital media art since 1979.
Photo: Ars Electronica / Martin Hieslmair
Selection process
- 20 experts will be invited to share the initiative with their communities and to invite artists to submit to the call.
- After the submission deadline, an international jury, consisting of five renowned personalities from the international media art and curatorial world, representing international institutions, will make the selection of the winning projects.
- In addition, the jury will facilitate the social contacts between entrants and curators that are so important for the continuation of an artistic career.
Timeline
| April 22, 2025 | Launch of the global Open Call |
| May 31, 2025 | Submission deadline |
| End of July 2025 | Public winner announcement |
| September 3 – 7, 2025 | Ars Electronica Festival, Linz, Austria |
The initiative
State of the ART(ist) is a joint initiative of the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs and Ars Electronica. It was launched in 2022 as a direct response to the increasing threats to artists and cultural professionals worldwide. What began as an immediate reaction to Russia’s war against Ukraine has since developed into a global platform dedicated to the precarious living and working conditions of artists worldwide.
The State of the ART(ist) initiative is closely linked to the Ars Electronica Award for Digital Humanity and benefits from the existing and fruitful collaboration between Ars Electronica and the Austrian Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs. It strives for a longer-term collaboration and is dedicated to the central question of freedom and art in order to be an offer for the artists in focus for the coming years. The Ars Electronica Festival offers an international platform and visibility for the presentation of the submitted works.
