The art world has always been technology's most honest critic and boldest experimenter. Now, as blockchain reshapes how we think about ownership, value, and digital culture, we need artists to lead the conversation—not follow it.
The Pixel Prize puts artists at the center of this critical moment. We see art as the most powerful vessel for examining technology's promises and contradictions, for asking the questions that matter before the answers become permanent. This prize offers three micro grants for technological artists to create v1 of a concept—acknowledging that meaningful tech art has real costs and deserves real support.We will evaluate these three grantees and award the artist who most powerfully embodies our mission a €50K grand prize.
Our focus: using blockchain as an artistic medium to drive the conversations we need most—about blockchain's failures, its potential, and everything in between.The future of digital culture shouldn't be written by technologists alone. Artists must have a voice in shaping what comes next.
Inspired by the Cascade Funding Model, JUST has selected GLITCH, spearheaded by Primavera de Filippi, to manage the selection and evaluation of artists who apply.
What is GLITCH?
GLITCH, started as a two-week focused residency at an 18th century chateau in France, is a collective of artists, technologists, and thinkers building a new creative ecosystem. GLITCH strives to empower people with ideas, visions, and expertise, while providing space for our attendees to reach deep into their minds and forge better models together. They exist to disrupt the status quo and to manifest positive solutions for society.
The Grant + Prize Structure
• Awarding THREE €6.000 micro-grants
• Awarding ONE €50.000 grand prize from the grantee pool
• Applicants must be based in Europe
• Applicants may be collectives or Individuals
• No Companies or Traditional Institutions
• Applicants are limited to one application
The submission should include:
• A video motivation letter and bio (3-5 minutes in length)
• Portfolio: website, videos, and images allowed
(accepted file types: .pdf, .jpg, .png, .mp4, .mov) at the highest possible resolution
• Written Artistic concept (500-1000 words)
• One-Page Resume
Thematic relevance
The proposed artwork must align with one of the four established themes - See Focus Area Tab
Blockchain as a medium
The project must demonstrate blockchain integration through either a smart contract implementation, or a clear justification of what it qualifies as "blockchain as a medium" (i.e. with innovation beyond basic NFT functionalities).
Open Source Requirement
• All project components must be open source
• Must be licensed under a standard open source license
Project Novelty
• Projects need not be conceptually novel
• Projects shouldn't have been implemented in other calls
• Implementation must be eligible for exclusive grant status, and it must qualify for promotional purposes without stakeholder conflicts
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and will close when the three grantees have been selected. It is to your advantage to get applications in as early as possible.
Open Call – ROLLING: May 30 - July 30, 2025
Micro-Grant Recipients Announced: July 30, 2025
Grantee Exhibition: Nov 6-15, 2025
Prize Selection and Dinner: Nov 15, 2025
Grand Prize Exhibition: June 2026
Grantees are expected to produce an original work for exhibition at BBA Gallery in November. The work need not be in its final form, but should clearly showcase the concept the artist wants to convey.
Selection for the grand prize will be made based on the Grantee Showcase submissions. The grand prize will allow the artist to complete the full scope of work for their own solo exhibit in 2026.
Born at the intersection of technology and artistic expression, The Pixel Prize is looking for creators commentating on four themes:
• Privacy as a human right
• Data sovereignty
• Economic rights
• Censorship resistance
All applications will be evaluated by our call partner, GLITCH.
Yes, but please submit a detailed abstract in English.
The only requirement is that at least one main researcher in the project be based in the European Union.
No, but you do need to be based in the European Union. Eventually, we’ll branch out to other locations.
You’ll have to wait until the next cohort. BUT! In the short term, you can join our Matrix community to continue the discussion with other like minded researchers.
Get in touch at grants[at]justopensource.io
