Organizer Information
Promoted by Associazione Via Gluck 62 AIR as part of the official program for the Milano Centrale Festival 2026, the Beyond the Image Art Prize is an international open call connecting contemporary photographic and lens-based practices with academic and scientific research. Supported by Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele in Milan and organized in partnership with the University of Lausanne, StayOnBoard Art Gallery, Archivio Gabriele Basilico, and All Art Contemporary, the initiative bridges artistic production, neuroscience, psychology, and digital culture.
Title & Description
Beyond the Image Art Prize 2026: "Who Are You Beyond the Image?"
The Via Gluck 62 AIR Association has announced the inaugural edition of the Beyond the Image Art Prize, inviting emerging and established artists to submit projects exploring identity in the digital age. Tied to the academic research project SatisFace—which examines facial perception, self-image, and the neuroscientific and algorithmic dimensions of human experience—the prize seeks creative inquiries into self-representation, digital technology, body perception, and visual memory. Two winning projects (one emerging artist and one established artist) will be selected for physical solo exhibitions in Milan during the Milano Centrale Festival 2026.
Categories
The call accepts Analog & Digital Photography, Experimental Photography, Video Art, Short Films, Experimental Films, Audiovisual Works, Video Installations, GIFs/Animations, Digitally Generated Images, and Hybrid/Multimedia Projects.
Eligibility
- Geographic & Demographic Scope: Open unconditionally to artists of all nationalities worldwide.
- Requirements: No age limits, educational degree requirements, or CV thresholds.
- Applicant Formats: Individual artists and collaborative groups/collectives are eligible to apply.
Program Benefits & Awards
Two winners will be selected (one Emerging Artist and one Established Artist). Each recipient receives:
- Physical Solo Exhibition: A dedicated exhibition hosted at the spaces of Associazione Via Gluck 62 in Milan, running from October 2 to October 30, 2026.
- Festival Integration: Official inclusion in the program of the Milano Centrale Festival 2026 (Opening October 2–4, 2026).
- Curatorial & Promotional Support: Comprehensive curatorial guidance, event organization, press outreach, and promotional coverage.
- Production Funding: Potential financial contribution toward artwork production costs (amount to be agreed upon with the selected winners).
Application Fee
- Registration Fee: €19.00 EUR per submission (contributes to administrative and secretarial costs).
- Payment Method: Direct Bank Transfer to VIA GLUCK 62 International Artist Residency (IBAN/SWIFT provided in application terms). Proof of payment must be attached to the application.
How to Apply
Complete the official online registration form and upload required documents via the organization's web portal.
- Official Entry Application Portal: Via Gluck 62 AIR Portal
Key Dates
- Submissions Opened: June 30, 2026
- Application Submission Deadline: September 10, 2026, at 11:59 PM CET
- Winner Announcement: September 15, 2026
- Artwork Delivery Deadline to Milan: September 28, 2026
- Festival Opening Window: October 2 – October 4, 2026
- Exhibition Duration: October 2 – October 30, 2026
Location
The physical exhibition showcase and festival events take place live in Italy at:
- Associazione Via Gluck 62 AIR, Via Gluck 62, Milan, Italy
Additional Details
Submissions are evaluated by an interdisciplinary panel comprising academic professors (spanning neuroscience and humanities), curators (including Giovanna Calvenzi and Luca Panaro), artists, gallery directors, journalists, and private collectors. Artists retain full copyright ownership of their original works, granting non-exclusive promotional display rights for the exhibition and prize documentation.