Dear Open Guides Team,

We would like to invite you to participate with http://openguides.org/ in this year’s Prix Ars Electronica, the foremost international prize for computer-based art. To mark Ars Electronica’s twenty-fifth anniversary in 2004, the Prix Ars Electronica has expanded its international competition for cyberarts to include a new “Digital Communities” category singling out for recognition projects of great sociopolitical relevance.

This new category encompasses the social consequences of the Internet as well as the latest developments in the domain of mobile communications and wireless networks. For a detailed description of the category and about Prix Ars Electronica in general, please see the attached PDF file or our website http://prixars.aec.at.

Prizes
Two Golden Nicas will be awarded with 10,000 Euro each and
4 Awards of Distinction with 5,000 Euro each and up to 14 Honorary Mentions.

The closing deadline for the entries is March 12^th, 2004.

If you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Looking forward to your positive reply!

Sincerely yours,
Iris Mayr

Iris Mayr      
AEC Ars Electronica Center Linz
Museumsgesellschaft mbH
Hauptstrasse 2
A-4040 Linz / Austria
Tel: +43-732-7272-74
Fax: +43-732-7272-676
Email: communities@prixars.aec.at
http://prixars.aec.at/

<<prix_folder_DC.pdf>>
Prix Ars Electronica 2004
Prix Ars Electronica 2004 is the 18th editition of the foremost international competition for computer-based art. To mark Ars Electronica's 25th anniversary in 2004, it is being expanded to include a “Digital Communities” domain dedicated to social developments of great current relevance. Deadline for submissions is March 12, 2004.


Prix Ars Electronica 2004 will be awarded in the following categories: "Computer Animation / Visual Effects", "Digital Musics", "Interactive Art", "Net Vision" and "Digital Communities".

Computer Animation / Visual Effects
The “Computer Animation / Visual Effects” category has been part of the Prix Ars Electronica since its very inception. It recognizes excellence in independent work in the arts and sciences as well as in high-end commercial productions in the film, advertising and entertainment industries. In this category, artistic originality counts just as much as masterful technical achievement.

Digital Musics
Contemporary digital sound productions from the broad spectrum of “electronica” come in for consideration in the “Digital Musics” category, as do works combining sound and media, computer compositions ranging from electro-acoustic to experimental music, or sound installations. This category’s programmatic agenda is to expand horizons beyond the confines of individual genres and artistic currents.

Interactive Art
The “Interactive Art” category is dedicated to interactive works in all forms and formats, from installations to performances. Here, particular consideration is given to the realization of apowerful artistic concept through the especially appropriate use of technologies, the innovativeness of the interaction design, and the work’s inherent potential to expand the human radius of action.

Net Vision
The "Net Vision" category singles out for recognition artistic projects in the Internet that display brilliance in how they have been engineered, designed and- especially-conceived, works that are outstanding with respect to innovation, interface design and the originality of their content. The way in which a work of net-based art deals with the online medium is essential in this category.

Digital Communities
“Digital Communities” encompasses the wide-ranging social consequences of the Internet as well as the latest developments in the domain of mobile communications and wireless networks. “Digital Communities” will spotlight bold and inspired innovations impacting human coexistence, bridging the digital divide regarding gender as well as geography, or creating outstanding social software and enhancing accessibility of technological-social infrastructure. This new category will showcase the political potential of digital and networked systems and is thus designed as a forum for a broad spectrum of projects, programs, initiatives and phenomenain which social innovation is taking place, as itwere, in real time.

u19-freestyle computing
Competition for young people under 19 in Austria
Prix Ars Electronica u19-freestyle computing is an open category for all works that have been designed with or executed by the computer-from websites to software to robots. “freestyle computing” stands for freedom from the restrictions associated with the use of different tools and for a competition that pays just as much attention to innovation and creativity as it does to the age of the individual submitting it.

[The next idea]
Art and Technology Grant
Discovering ideas for tomorrow in young minds today is the aim of this spin-off the highly successful u19 competition. Artists age 19-27 are invited to submit ideas and proposals for works not yet realized. The winner receives a stipend in the amount of 7,500 Euro and will be invited to spend a term as Artist in Residence at the Ars Electronica Futurelab-a great opportunity to bring project ideas to fruition and subsequently to present them to a large international audience at the Ars Electronica Festival.