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Kids, Creativity and Cyberspace: A Golden Nica for a Young Generation of Talented Artists
In January, the Prix Ars Electronica will begin accepting entries in the u19 freestyle computing category—this year featuring a revamped format and additional prizes.
Linz (December 18, 2003). Helping young people bring their ideas to fruition and showcase their work, and nurturing their abilities, creativity and imaginative approach to new technologies and media—this is the essential mission of Prix Ars Electronica’s u19 freestyle computing. This category’s very name is indicative of the broad spectrum of potential submissions, and a glance at the 1,042 entries in 2003 impressively confirms that there are no restrictions being placed here on the inventiveness of young Austrian artists. The roll of winners of the Golden Nica, Awards of Distinction and Honorary Mentions is diverse indeed, including fellow-students, groups of friends and individual contestants, elementary school pupils and high school grads alike. Thematically as well, the kaleidoscope of young creative artists’ encounters with modern technology is reflected in their u19 entries, with computer animation, robotics, Web design and interactive games among the prime focal points of interest.
And the winner is … everybody!
The Prix Ars Electronica’s u19 freestyle computing category is designed to motivate. So, in this spirit, everyone’s a winner since all participants get individualized feedback about their work from an expert jury as well as a complementary pass to the 2004 Ars Electronica Festival. The Golden Nica plus € 5,600 in cash is bestowed on the grand prizewinner, recipients of the two Awards of Distinction receive € 2,200 each, and 10 additional works are singled out for recognition with an Honorary Mention. In every case, the jury will take the competitor’s age into consideration, but in order to insure balanced representation of the various age groups among the winners, there are two special merchandise prizes in store for younger participants: one for kids up to age 10, and one for youngsters age 11-14. The awards will be handed out in conjunction with the Ars Electronica Festival in September 2004. Prizewinning works will be shown as part of the CyberArts 2004 exhibition in Linz’s O.K Center for Contemporary Art and presented in the annual Prix Ars Electronica catalog.
Contact and Information
Naturally, such an undertaking can’t get by without an organizational format and a body of rules, and Prix Ars Electronica’s u19 freestyle computing is no exception. But don’t worry—we’ve made every effort to keep red tape to a minimum, and the Ars Electronica Center’s staff is always there to help work things out! Entries can be submitted between January 12 and March 12. In order to receive a folder containing details about how to enter, get in touch with Gerlinde Pöschko at: Ars Electronica Center, Hauptstraße 4, 4040 Linz, Austria, gerlinde.poeschko@aec.at, 0043.732.7272-79.
With queries, contact:
Wolfgang A. Bednarzek
Pressesprecher / Press Officer
AEC Ars Electronica Center Linz
Hauptstraße 2, 4040 Linz, Austria
tel ++43.732.7272-38
fax ++43.732.7272-638
wolfgang.bednarzek@aec.at
Press Lounge@Ars Electronica:
http://www.aec.at/press
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