dm-Award connecting worlds 2026

About this call

The UNESCO City of Media Arts Office of the Karlsruhe Department of Cultural Affairs in Germany awards the dm-Award connecting worlds, endowed with €10,000, with dm-drogerie markt as awarding partner, ZKM | Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe as curatorial partner and KME as organizer of the SCHLOSSLICHTSPIELE Light Festival. The call is open internationally to artists applying individually or as a collective. Under the motto "PLAYGROUND", projects must connect a projection mapping of 2 to 5 minutes on the palace facade with at least one satellite on Karlsruhe's Market Square that also works independently, playfully activating public space. The winning project is realized during the SCHLOSSLICHTSPIELE Light Festival and the exhibition Media art is here, 12 August to 13 September 2027, with up to €20,000 net in production funding.

Who can apply

• Open to applicants of any nationality
• Medium: New Media / Installation
• Entry fee: See official site
• Open internationally to artists, individually or as a collective. Employees of the host institutions, sponsors and the awarding partner, and jury members, are excluded. Projects must have two elements: a projection mapping on the palace facade (2 to 5 minutes) and at least one satellite that works independently of the projection, experienceable on Karlsruhe's Market Square and publicly and freely accessible. Projects already realized are permitted with adaptations. Submit one document in German or English with: information about the artist or group (name or company name, email address, mailing address, phone number, nationality or place of residence, short biography); a project outline with storyboard and presentation ideas (maximum 1,500 characters including spaces); a list of required materials, technical equipment and personnel (security, supervision, setup and teardown, etc.); the granting of usage rights; and up to 5 images, 3 video clips or audio samples of up to 5 minutes each, or up to 5 links. Text must not be submitted as images. Submissions that do not meet these requirements are not admitted to the competition. Send by download link to cityofmediaarts@kultur.karlsruhe.de by 25 November 2026, 1:00 p.m. CET. The production grant must cover all production costs, including fees, technical equipment and the winners' travel; any changes to the festival's existing technical infrastructure or additional equipment must be planned for by the participants themselves. The project must be completed by July 31, 2027.