Since 1987, the Prix Ars Electronica is a seismograph for the latest innovations at the interface of art, technology and science, and thus an important barometer of trends in the digital arts. With 3,674 entries submitted from 72 countries, the Prix Ars Electronica has once again underscored its status as key bellwether in the dynamic field of cyberarts. The 2012 Prix Ars Electronica invited submissions in the following seven categories: Computer Animation/Film/VFX, Digital Communities, Digital Musics & Sound Art, Hybrid Art, Interactive Art, [the next idea] voestalpine Art and Technology Grant and u19 – CREATE YOUR WORLD that reflect the ongoing diversification of digital media art as well as the continuing development of the Prix Ars Electronica itself.

Juries made up of prominent experts from all over the world selected the winners of 6 Golden Nicas, 12 Awards of Distinction, 1 [the next idea] Grant and 72 Honorary Mentions. Honarees also received a total of 117,500 euros in prize money.

This year, a jury also selected the first recipient of the Prix Ars Electronica Collide@CERN Award, the new artist-in-residence program established by CERN and Ars Electronica.

Prix Forum I – Hybrid Art

is part of the THE BIG PICTURE – Symposium
Sa/Sat 1. 9. 10:30 – 17:30
Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz, Auditorium

The prize winners in the Hybrid Art category

Joe Davis (US) – bacterial radio / Golden Nica
Agnes Meyer-Brandis (DE) – MOON GOOSE ANALOGUE: Lunar Migration Bird Facility / Award of Distinction
Golan Levin (US), Shawn Sims (US) – The Free Universal Construction Kit / Award of Distinction

Prix Forum II – Interactive Art

is part of THE BIG PICTURE – Symposium on Saturday afternoon
Sa/Sat 1. 9. 15:00 – 17:30
Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz, Auditorium

The prize winners in the Interactive Art category

Timo Toots (EE) – Memopol-2 / Golden Nica
Markus Kayser (DE) – Solar Sinter Project / Award of Distinction
Isobel Knowles (AU), Van Sowerwine (AU) with Matthew Gingold (AU) – It’s a jungle in here / Award of Distinction

Prix Forum III – Digital Communities

is part of the Everyday Rebellion Conference
So/Sun 2. 9. 10:30 – 17:30
Brucknerhaus, Mittlerer Saal

The prize winners in the Digital Communities category

Syrian people know their way: http://sha3b3aref.blogspot.com / Golden Nica
Dark Glasses.Portrait: http://ichenguangcheng.blogspot.com / Award of Distinction
Apertus Open Source Cinema: http://www.apertus.org / Award of Distinction

Prix Forum IV – Computer Animation

So/Sun 2. 9. 11:00 – 12:30
Ars Electronica Center, Seminarraum

The prize winners in the Computer Animation category

Jeff Desom (LU) – Rear Window Loop / Golden Nica
Weta Digital (NZ) – Rise of the Planet of the Apes / Award of Distinction
Evan Viera (US) – Caldera / Award of Distinction
Participants of the Forum
Christine Schöpf (AT)
Jeff Desom (LU)
Evan Viera (US)

Prix Forum V – Digital Musics

is part of the Ars Electronica Music Day
Mo/Mon 3. 9. 11:30 – 13:30
Brucknerhaus, Großer Saal

The prize winners in the Digital Musics & Sound Art category

Jo Thomas (UK) – Crystal Sounds of a Synchrotron / Golden Nica
Tarik Barri (NL), Anselm Venezian Nehls (DE) – #tweetscapes – a HEAVYLISTENING experience / Award of Distinction
Cheng Xu (CN) – scape-sequenser / Award of Distinction

Participants of the Forum
Martin Supper (DE) – Member of the Jury
Jo Thomas (UK)
Tarik Barri (NL), Anselm Venezian Nehls (DE)
Cheng Xu (CN)

Prix Forum u19 – CREATE YOUR WORLD

Fr/ Fri 31. 8. 13:30 – 15:00
u19 – CREATE YOUR WORLD-Festivalstadt