Organizer Information
The TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe (TRK) is a cross-border regional network located in southwestern Germany and northeastern France, encompassing cities such as Karlsruhe, Strasbourg, and surrounding areas. The organization promotes innovation, collaboration, and sustainable development across technology, science, and culture. Through initiatives like the “Peter Weibel” Art Prize, TRK actively supports contemporary artistic practices that engage with societal challenges, technological transformation, and interdisciplinary discourse. The award reflects the legacy of Peter Weibel, a renowned media theorist and artist, by encouraging experimental, forward-thinking, and media-based artistic approaches. TRK aims to foster dialogue between art, science, and society, positioning itself as a platform for emerging and mid-career artists working at the intersection of disciplines.
Title & Description
3rd Art Prize of the TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe “Peter Weibel” – “Utopia: Work(s) in the Year 2050.”
The 3rd edition of the “Peter Weibel” Art Prize invites artists to explore the future of work through speculative, critical, and interdisciplinary artistic practices. Under the theme “Utopia: Work(s) in the Year 2050”, the competition encourages participants to reflect on how technological transformation, artificial intelligence, climate change, and social dynamics will reshape labor, identity, and society.
This open call is structured as a two-stage competition. In the first stage, artists submit a conceptual proposal outlining their artistic idea. A selected group of up to ten artists will then be invited to realize their projects for a final exhibition (Stage 2), where the jury will award three main prizes.
The program emphasizes experimental and research-driven approaches rather than traditional outcomes. Artists are encouraged to work across disciplines, integrating new media, performance, digital technologies, and hybrid formats. The initiative aims to generate new perspectives on urgent global issues such as automation, demographic change, sustainability, and the ethical implications of AI.
Ultimately, the competition seeks to expand imaginative horizons through artistic speculation—positioning art as a critical tool to question, visualize, and reinterpret possible futures of work and human existence.
Categories
- Visual Arts
- Media Art / New Media
- Performance (Dance / Theatre)
- Video / Digital Art
- Interdisciplinary Arts
- Literature / Theatre Writing
- Sound / Experimental Practices
Eligibility
- Open to artists and artist collectives connected to the TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe
- Applicants must:
- Be born in, live in, study in, or have studied in the TRK region
- Maximum age: under 40 years old
- Open to both emerging and professional artists
- Students enrolled in recognized art institutions within the TRK are eligible
- Applicants must demonstrate:
- Formal artistic education or
- Proven professional artistic activity over several years
Program Benefits & Awards
- 1st Prize: €12,000
- 2nd Prize: €8,000
- 3rd Prize: €5,000
Additional financial and production support:
- €1,500 production budget for shortlisted artists (Stage 2)
- €1,000 exhibition fee
- €400 transport support
- €100 travel cost support
- Up to €500 for technical equipment rental (upon proof)
- Up to €2,000 for performers (if applicable)
Further opportunities:
- Exhibition in 2027 (venue to be announced)
- Presentation of the 1st prize work at Art Karlsruhe 2028
- Inclusion in the TRK virtual art collection (digital format)
- Participation in artist talks during the exhibition
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Personal information (name, contact details, artistic background)
- Artistic CV or biography
- Concept proposal (max. 2 pages, including visual elements)
- Description of technical requirements and media
- Optional supporting materials (if relevant)
How to Apply?
Applications must be submitted via email to: kunstpreis@trk.de
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 24 April 2026
- Stage 1 Jury Selection: Early May 2026
- Notification of Results (Stage 1): 22 May 2026
- Production Phase (Stage 2): Until June 2027
- Final Exhibition & Award Ceremony: Summer 2027 (exact dates TBA)
Location
TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe, Germany
Additional Details
- The competition strongly encourages interdisciplinary and experimental approaches
- Artists are responsible for installation, deinstallation, and transport logistics
- Selected works must be exhibited physically and submitted digitally for TRK’s collection
- Artworks must be clearly labeled and technically operable (e.g., simple on/off systems)
- Jury decisions are final and not subject to appeal
- Selected works may be used for promotional and publication purposes
- Artists must acknowledge TRK support in future presentations of awarded works
This prestigious art prize offers a unique opportunity for artists to critically engage with the future of work while gaining visibility, financial support, and access to an influential regional art network.