State of the ART(ist) 2026 Open Call
We’re delighted to share that the open call for State of the ART(ist) 2026 is now live!
Artists at Risk (AR) co-directors Ivor Stodolsky and Marita Muukkonen will once again serve on the jury for this year’s prize, continuing their engagement from previous editions.
Organized by the Austrian Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs and @ArsElectronica, the initiative supports artists and cultural practitioners whose work and livelihoods are affected by political repression, war, environmental crisis, digital surveillance and systemic inequality.
In a time of escalating global crises, the 2026 edition explores the relationship between art, activism and resistance to authoritarian tendencies worldwide. It creates space for artistic expression as both documentation and intervention. There are no format restrictions and anonymous submissions are possible.
Two selected projects will receive awards of 6,000 EUR and 4,000 EUR respectively and will be presented at the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz, Austria, from 9–13 September 2026.
Submission deadline: 31 May 2026, 23:59 CEST
Submissions through this link: https://ars.electronica.art/stateoftheartist/en/opencall/
We encourage artists, activists and cultural practitioners worldwide to apply and look forward to this year’s submissions!
