Arshake is pleased to relaunch State of the ART(ist) – Cultural Diplomacy and the Freedom of Art, an open call launched by Ars Electronica, which will close on 31 May 2025.
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.
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.
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.
Deadline 31.05.2025
Notification: July 2025
Ars Electronica: September 3-7, 2025
Submit now
