S+T+ARTS Prize Buen-TEK
Honouring Indigenous Technology and Forgotten Values
+ Introduction
In a world where economic growth often overshadows ecological and social concerns, we invite artists to redefine innovation by drawing inspiration from Lo-TEK, Indigenous Technology, and the principles of Buen Vivir.
Buen Vivir is a philosophy rooted in Indigenous worldviews that promotes living in harmony with nature, community, and the collective good. Lo-TEK celebrates the resilience and ingenuity of ancestral knowledge, bridging ecology, culture, and technology, as explored in “Lo—TEK: Design by Radical Indigenism” by Julia Watson.
It’s time to shift the narrative towards sustainable, inclusive, and culturally rooted approaches to technology and innovation. We seek innovative art-driven projects that embrace traditional knowledge, indigenous wisdom, and de-growth concepts, and centre living in harmony with nature, community, and the collective good, offering a fresh perspective on how art can foster positive change and propose groundbreaking solutions for a better future.
Through this S+T+ARTS Prize Buen-TEK, visionary artists that are nationals/permanent residents of Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay are invited to submit projects that contribute to the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants, by challenging the status quo and bridging the gap between art and technology, .
An international jury will review all applications and distribute a total of € 30.000 in prizes among a selection between two to six projects, depending on the jury’s evaluation and decision. The winners will be showcased in an exhibition at the IMPAKT Festival in April 2026 and will benefit from a massive dissemination campaign in the S+T+ARTS network in Europe and South America.
+ Benefits
Award Prize
The S+T+ARTS Prize Buen-TEK awards a total of € 30.000, which will be distributed between two to six projects, as determined by the jury.
The prize is tax-included, which means that the applicable VAT rate in The Netherlands at the time of the transfer will be deducted from the total amount, unless a double taxation agreement exists between The Netherlands and the awardee’s country of residence. In that case, the exemption must be officially confirmed with documentation from the relevant foreign tax authorities.
Award Ceremony and Exhibition
Awrded projects will be showcased in an exhibition organised by IMPAKT [Centre for Media Culture] in Utrecht, The Netherlands in April 2026, and will benefit from a comprehensive international dissemination campaign through the S+T+ARTS network in Europe and South America.
The winners will be invited to personally attend the Award Ceremony and exhibition opening, which will take place as part of the IMPAKT Festival.
+ Eligibility Criteria
+ The S+T+ARTS Prize Buen-TEK rewards artistic and cultural initiatives that engage Indigenous knowledge, traditional technologies, and forgotten values, promoting sustainability, inclusivity, and culturally rooted approaches to innovation.
+ All forms of artistic practice that foreground traditional knowledge, Indigenous wisdom, Lo‑TEK and Buen Vivir — and that propose creative, community‑centred and ecologically grounded approaches to technology, economy or society — are welcome. Submissions may include (but are not limited to): visual arts, installation, site-specific and public art, community art projects, immersive and interactive works (VR, XR, AR), sound art and experimental music, film and video, performance and participatory practices, photography-based projects, sculpture and material research, fashion and textile practices, bioart and ecological/biotechnological experiments, machine learning and data-driven artworks, robotics and kinetic systems, citizen science and community-led research projects, workshops and pedagogical formats…
+ Applicants must be nationals/permanent residents of:Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Uruguay.
+ An artist group is eligible to apply if at least one member is a national/permanent resident of the eligible countries and he/she/they are the ones to make the submission.
+ Each submission must represent a completed developed project, allowing the jury to assess its quality and implementation. Proposals or early concepts will not be eligible.
+ Projects should not be older than two years or have to show a significant update or further development within the last two years.
+ Initiatives consisting of or benefitting entities subject to EU sanctions are not eligible to apply. *
* This includes entities subject to EU restrictive measures under Article 29 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU) and Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning ft he EU (TFEU) and entities covered by Commission Guidelines No 2013/C 205/059).
+ Submission Materials
Applicants must provide the following materials through the online submission platform.
Audiovisual Material
+ Up to 10 images in high-resolution documenting the project, prototypes, site, or work.
+ Audio and video files (optional). If submitting a video, provide a short video or trailer of 3–5 minutes. You can add additional longer videos or the full film/video from the trailer hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, or similar.
+ Alternative or complementary formats (images, documents, drawings) may also be submitted as .jpg, .png, or .pdf..
Artist/Team information
+ Artist statement (max. 300 words) on your general practice, including references to recent works and the position the proposed project has within your practice
+ Resume/CV (.pdf; max. 3 pages)
+ Short bio (max 150 words)
+ Printable portrait photo(s) in high resolution
+ Contact details (email, phone, postal address, website, social network)
+ Identity document proving nationality or country of residence (scan or photo; passport or national ID)
Written project dossier
+ Project summary (max 500 words): the jury will first look at this summary. Your summary must explain the distinct qualities of the concept of your project and the features that sets it apart, including the special (personal or of your collective) approach the project has. Explain how it relates to the Buen-TEK Buen Vivir / Lo‑TEK themes and/or how it incorporates Indigenous and ancestral knowledge, sustainability and alternative approaches to technology and its intended impact on (local) communities and ecosystems.
+ Detailed description (max 2000 words): in this detailed description you can expand on the qualities addressed in the summary and the artistic concept, methodology, materials/processes, community engagement and ethical considerations that are relevant for your project.
+ Technical spec sheet: awarded works will be exhibited in Utrecht in April 2026, either in their original format, a smaller format, or through documentation. Please provide all relevant details for your project to be exhibited in the Netherlands, including transport-compatible technical details, hardware, software, materials, spatial and power requirements, mounting/installation notes, weight and dimensions, and any special permissions or local-fabrication needs. If possible, also provide details for the project to be exhibited in a smaller version or through documentation.
+ Names/roles of collaborators, communities or knowledge holders involved and a short statement on consent, benefit‑sharing or agreements (where applicable).
+ Selection & Jury Process
Submissions will be collected through the open call hosted on starts.eu
The call opens on 27 October 2025 and remains active for 8 weeks, closing on 22 December 2025 at 23:59 CET. IMPAKT and partner institutions will provide support and guidance to applicants throughout the process. Applications will be evaluated on artistic excellence, relevance to the Buen‑TEK theme, innovation, potential for social and environmental impact, feasibility and clarity of concept.
The S+T+ARTS Prize Buen-TEK Jury will be composed of internationally recognised experts from the fields of art, science, technology, and Indigenous knowledge, selected by the Buen-TEK – S+T+ARTS Consortium, and include at least two consortium partners and four representatives from host institutions in South America.
The Jury will review eligible submissions and select two to six award-winning projects over which the total sum of prize money € 30.000 will be distributed. The Jury’s decision is final.
All winners will be notified by the 15th February 2026, and the official announcement will take place during the Award Ceremony during the Impakt Festival 2026.
+ Timeline
+ Contact
IMPAKT (Centre for Media Culture):
Lange Nieuwstraat 4, 3512 PH Utrecht, The Netherlands
prize@impakt.nl
+ FAQ
Before Submission
I would like to participate. Where can I find more information about the S+T+ARTS Prize Buen-TEK?
You can learn more about the terms and conditions of the S+T+ARTS Prize Buen-TEK [here].
When and where can I submit my application?
The 2025 submission phase for the S+T+ARTS Prize Buen-TEK will take place from October 27 to December 22, 2025, 23:59 CET.
You can submit your project online via the official platform [here].
Is there a participation fee?
There is no fee to enter the competition.
Can I submit an unfinished project?
Every submitted project must be, at the time of submission, fully completed. Entries that are still at the proposal stage will not be considered.
How recent should the project be to qualify for submission?
Projects should not be older than two years or must show a significant update or further development within the last two years.
Can I submit several works?
Yes, but each work should be a separate entry.
Submission Process
In which languages can the submission be made?
Submissions must be made in English, Spanish or Portuguese. Submissions in other languages will not be evaluated.
After Submission
How are the winners selected?
An international jury composed of experts in art, science, technology, Indigenous knowledge, and sustainability will evaluate all eligible applications. The selection will be based on artistic excellence, relevance to the theme, innovation, social and environmental impact, feasibility, and clarity of concept.
When will the winners be announced?
The winners will be notified after the 15 February 2026. The winners will be announced online in the Buen-TEK section of the starts.eu website. The official award ceremony will take place during the IMPAKT Festival 2026 in Utrecht, The Netherlands (April 8th to April 12th, 2026).
How will the prize money be awarded?
A total of €30,000 will be awarded to two to six projects, as determined by the Jury.
The distribution will depend on the Jury’s decision. For example, it could be 4 prizes of €7,500 each, or 1 main prize of €15,000 and 3 prizes of €5,000 each, or 6 prizes of €5,000 each, depending on the quality and diversity of selected projects.
The prize amount includes applicable taxes; VAT or withholding tax may apply according to agreements between The Netherlands and the awardee’s country of residence.
Will the winning projects be exhibited?
Yes. The selected projects will be showcased during the IMPAKT Festival 2026 in Utrecht. Works may be presented in their original format, an adapted version, or through documentation, depending on technical and logistical feasibility.
Will transport and installation costs be covered?
The organisers will provide support for transport and installation during the exhibition or offer documentation-based alternatives when necessary. Applicants must provide a detailed technical specification sheet including dimensions, weight, materials, power needs, and installation requirements.
What happens to the submitted materials (texts, images, videos)?
Submitted materials from selected projects may be used for communication and dissemination within the S+T+ARTS network (websites, exhibitions, catalogues, and press), always with full credit to the authors.
Partners
S+T+ARTS Buen-Tek is co-funded by the European Union, under the STARTS – Science, Technology and Arts initiative of DG CNECT (GA no. LC- 03568052). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or DG CNECT. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.