Organizer Information
The VH AWARD is an international award program initiated in 2016 and hosted by Hyundai Motor Group, a major South Korean multinational corporation. The initiative is dedicated to supporting emerging media artists whose work engages with the cultural, social, and technological contexts of Asia and its global diasporas.
Through its hybrid structure of online residency, mentorship, and international exhibition opportunities, the VH AWARD functions as a platform for expanding contemporary Audiovisual practices. It focuses on experimental screen-based art and fosters critical reflection on how moving image cultures shape understandings of identity, history, and futurity across Asia and beyond.
The program is supported by Hyundai’s broader cultural commitment to cross-disciplinary innovation, involving multiple affiliated companies including Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Card, Hyundai AutoEver, and others.
Title & Description
VH AWARD 2026 – International Media Art & Audiovisual Award
The VH AWARD 2026 is a global open call supporting emerging and mid-career artists working in screen-based and time-based media. It invites proposals for original Audiovisual artworks, including video art, animation, motion graphics, games, experimental film, and hybrid digital formats designed for single-channel presentation.
The award is specifically oriented toward artists whose work engages with Asia—whether through geography, identity, cultural discourse, or diaspora perspectives. It encourages critical and experimental approaches that expand the boundaries of moving-image practices and reflect on the relationship between past, present, and future.
Selected participants progress through a multi-stage program that includes:
- An Online Residency program featuring masterclasses and 1:1 mentorship
- Development of a proposed artwork with a production grant
- Final production and submission phase
- International exhibition and screening opportunities
- Award ceremony and final recognition events
From an initial pool of applicants, five finalists are selected to receive major support, including production funding and access to an international curatorial and mentorship network. One participant is ultimately awarded the Grand Prix.
The program emphasizes experimentation, originality, and conceptual rigor. All submitted works must be unpublished, unexhibited, and independently produced, ensuring that selected projects are fully new commissions developed through the award structure.
Categories
- Video/Film
- Animation
- Motion
- New Media
- Digital
- Multimedia
- Audiovisual
- Game Art (experimental)
- Media Arts
- Technology
- Interdisciplinary Arts
Eligibility
The VH AWARD is open internationally to:
- Individual artists and collectives
- Emerging and mid-career media artists
- Artists whose work engages with Asia (geographically, culturally, or through diaspora identity)
- Asian artists, Asia-based artists, and members of the Asian diaspora worldwide
Additional conditions:
- Applicants must submit original work not previously exhibited or submitted to other awards
- Submissions must be suitable for single-channel screen presentation
- Applications must be in English
- Collectives are eligible, provided authorship is clearly defined
- Up to two submissions per applicant are allowed
Program Benefits & Awards
Selected participants receive:
Finalists (5 selected artists/collectives)
- Production Fund of USD 30,000
- Participation in Ars Electronica Online Residency
- Masterclasses and 1:1 mentorship
- Curatorial and professional networking opportunities
- International exhibition and screening opportunities
Additional Recognition
- Honorary Mention category (selected artists receive visibility and partial program access)
Grand Prix Winner
- Additional USD 30,000 award
- Highest-level recognition within the program
Application Fee
None
Application Requirements
- Artist CV (max 3 pages PDF)
- Artist statement (max 3 pages PDF)
- Video portfolio introduction (max 3 minutes)
- New artwork proposal (max 3 pages PDF)
- Reference video (max 1 minute, storyboard or visual proposal)
- All materials must be in English
- Works must be original and unpublished
- Single-channel format only
Technical formats include common video and document standards (MP4, MOV, PDF, etc.).
How to Apply?
Online Application
Key Dates
- Application Deadline: 21 July 2026
- Finalist Announcement: September 2026
- Online Residency: September 2026 – March 2027
- Artwork Submission: April 2027
- Award Ceremony: June 2027
- Exhibition & Screening: June 2027 onward
Location
Online / South Korea
Additional Details
- Up to five finalists are selected each cycle
- One Grand Prix winner is awarded
- Participation in the online residency is mandatory for finalists
- Works must be strictly original and not previously presented
- Only single-channel screen-based works are accepted
- Disqualification may occur in cases of plagiarism, false information, or rights violations
- Final exhibition formats will be determined and communicated to finalists
- Each applicant may submit up to two separate entries