Hyundai Motor Group is accepting applications for the seventh VH Award. The global program funds screen-based audiovisual creators whose work engages with the context of Asia.
Submissions remain open through July 21, 2026.
What happened
The VH Award targets individuals and collectives of Asian descent. Artists based in Asia or belonging to the Asian diaspora are eligible to apply.
Submissions must feature screen-based audiovisual art. Accepted formats include video art, motion graphics, animation, video games, and films.
The call also welcomes projects in newly explored digital areas.
The seventh edition introduces increased production grants for all finalists. Organizers also added a new Honorary Mention category to highlight a wider range of participants.
In June 2027, an international jury will select one Grand Prix recipient. That primary winner will receive an additional $30,000 prize.
Five finalists will enter a six-month online residency. The program was newly developed in an expanded partnership with Ars Electronica.
The residency pairs finalists with an international network of curators, technologists, and art experts. The program guides artists as they develop new works from initial concepts.
Participants receive individual curatorial and technical mentoring. The residency also includes peer exchange sessions and expert feedback panels.
The program features exclusive masterclasses with prominent artists. Hito Steyerl and Daito Manabe will lead sessions focused on contemporary media art practices.
Completed projects will tour globally starting in 2027. Planned exhibition venues include HEK, the House of Electronic Arts, in Basel.
Works will also show at the Ars Electronica Festival in Linz. Previous editions, including the sixth VH Award, held major presentations at these same venues.
The new works will appear at Hyundai Motor Group’s Vision Hall in Yongin. The tour will eventually reach Singapore Art Week in 2028.
Why it matters
Producing high-quality media art requires significant funding and technical infrastructure. The VH Award provides both direct cash grants and institutional backing.
The expanded partnership with Ars Electronica connects emerging creators directly with established technologists. This intensive mentorship helps artists transition complex digital concepts into polished, exhibition-ready pieces.
A guaranteed global exhibition tour offers substantial exposure. Finalists bypass the traditional gallery system to show work directly at major international arts festivals.
The catch
The award maintains strict eligibility criteria. Applicants must demonstrate a direct connection to Asia or the Asian diaspora, and their work must engage with that context.
The program exclusively supports screen-based media. Traditional painters, sculptors, and live performance artists cannot participate in this specific call.
The six-month residency takes place entirely online. This remote format limits physical networking and hands-on technical collaboration in a shared studio environment.
What to verify
The initial announcement does not disclose the exact baseline production grant amounts for the five finalists.
It remains unclear which specific components of the online residency will be available to Honorary Mention artists. The announcement only notes they will receive selective access.
Applicants should check the official portal for detailed technical requirements. Complex submissions like video games or interactive animations may require specific file constraints.
Source trail
This information originates from a sponsored announcement published by This Is Colossal. The overall award program is managed and funded by Hyundai Motor Group.
Prospective applicants can submit required materials through the official VH Award website.
