SUPERIORITAS Terms and Conditions

1. Nature and Scope of the Award

SUPERIORITAS is an international, non-acquisitive contemporary art award dedicated to research-based, conceptually rigorous, and critically engaged artistic practices.

The Award is conceived not merely as a call-for-entries platform, but as an ongoing curatorial and editorial project that develops continuity through exhibitions, publications, research, and archival initiatives.

SUPERIORITAS does not acquire artworks.

All submitted, shortlisted, finalist, exhibited, and awarded works remain the full legal property of their respective authors.

2. Eligibility and General Conditions

The Award is open to artists of all nationalities, backgrounds, and countries of residence.

The following individuals are not eligible to participate:

• Members of the SUPERIORITAS organizing team

• Members of the professional jury

• Individuals directly involved in the administration of the Award

There are no restrictions regarding:

• Age

• Year of production

• Size

• Medium

• Theme

• Geographic location

The official language of the Award is English.

Where submission fees apply, they are non-refundable.

3. Definitions

3.1 Author (Artist)

For the purposes of these Terms and Conditions, the Author is the individual artist or collective responsible for the creation of the submitted work and who holds the legal rights required for participation in the Award.

The Author must possess the authority to:

• Submit the work

• Grant usage rights as outlined in these Terms

• Accept all legal and administrative conditions of participation

3.2 Artwork

An Artwork refers to any artistic work submitted to the Award regardless of medium, process, or methodology.

Eligible works may incorporate:

• Mechanical processes

• Industrial fabrication

• Digital technologies

• Artificial intelligence

• Photomechanical reproduction

• Collaborative production

Provided that authorship, copyright ownership, and all necessary permissions remain clearly established.

4. Award Categories and Prizes

4.1 Painting

This category includes works grounded in painting-based practice, including expanded, conceptual, experimental, and research-driven approaches to painting.

Curatorial Special Prize (Painting)

Awarded to a submission demonstrating exceptional conceptual clarity, artistic quality, and research relevance within painting practice.

4.2 Sculpture and Installation

Including:

• Sculpture

• Installation

• Land Art

• Urban Art

• Site-Specific Practices

This category includes practices engaging with:

• Material research

• Landscape

• Architecture

• Environment

• Public space

• Territorial and contextual investigation

Curatorial Special Prize (Sculpture and Installation)

Awarded to a submission demonstrating outstanding research-based or contextually engaged practice.

4.3 Time-Based and Digital Practices

Including:

• Video Art

• Sound Art

• Performance

• Digital Graphics

• Computational Art

• Interactive Media

Works may engage with:

• Time

• Duration

• Movement

• Sound

• Code

• Digital environments

• Hybrid methodologies

Curatorial Special Prize (Time-Based and Digital Practices)

Awarded for conceptual depth, innovation, and research-oriented experimentation.

4.4 Research-Based Art Prize

Awarded across all categories.

This distinction recognizes a practice demonstrating:

• Sustained artistic inquiry

• Critical methodology

• Strong theoretical foundations

• Investigative depth

The Research-Based Art Prize cannot be applied for directly and is assigned solely by the jury.

4.5 Special Prizes

Special Prizes may be awarded across all categories at the discretion of the jury.

These distinctions recognize:

• Artistic excellence

• Experimental approaches

• Conceptual innovation

• Critical engagement

• Outstanding research

Special Prizes do not replace category prizes.

5. Submission and Evaluation

5.1 Submission Procedure

Applications must be submitted exclusively through the official SUPERIORITAS online application system.

Physical artworks must not be shipped, mailed, or transported during any stage of the application process.

Each application must include:

• Artist information

• Category selection

• Artwork documentation

• Conceptual statement

• Research context

• Description of methodology and artistic intentions

Authorized representatives may submit applications on behalf of artists provided that full consent has been granted.

Each artist may submit up to five works free of charge unless otherwise stated.

5.2 Anonymous Evaluation Process

To ensure impartiality, all submissions are evaluated anonymously.

The jury receives only:

• Artwork documentation

• Conceptual statement

• Technical information directly related to the work

The following information is withheld from the jury:

• Artist name

• Nationality

• Place of residence

• Gender

• Email address

• Professional affiliations

This blind review process ensures that all submissions are evaluated solely on artistic merit.

5.3 Jury Scoring System

The jury consists of three independent jurors.

Each artwork is evaluated according to two criteria:

Criterion Score

Concept 1–10

Execution 1–10

Maximum score per juror: 20 points

Maximum total score: 60 points

Each juror evaluates submissions independently and records scores separately to avoid influence from other jurors.

The evaluation process follows the structure below:

1. Individual scoring

2. Combined score calculation

3. Longlist formation

4. Shortlist formation

5. Finalist selection

6. Award assignment

This scoring and listing structure applies from the 2026 edition onward. In all other editions, the shortlisted group was listed as VINCITORI DEL PREMIO SPECIALE (Winners of the Special Prize).

6. Documentation Requirements

For each submitted work:

• At least one image, video, or file must represent the work in its entirety

• Detail images may only supplement a complete view

Two-Dimensional Works

Must include:

• At least one image showing the full work with visible edges

Three-Dimensional and Installation Works

Must include:

• At least one view demonstrating spatial depth and context

Additional documentation may be requested.

Video and Time-Based Works

Must be submitted through streaming links only:

• Vimeo

• YouTube

• Private streaming platforms

Maximum duration:

30 minutes

Up to three images may be submitted per artwork.

Submissions may not be modified after final submission.

7. Copyright, Originality, and Responsibility

By submitting an application, the Author confirms that:

1. The work is original.

2. Copyright is fully owned or controlled by the Author.

3. All collaborators have provided consent.

4. No third-party rights are infringed.

Plagiarism, unauthorized copying, imitation, or misappropriation is strictly prohibited.

The Author accepts full legal responsibility for:

• Copyright disputes

• Intellectual property claims

• Authorship conflicts

• Unauthorized use of protected materials

SUPERIORITAS bears no responsibility for legal conflicts arising from submitted works.

The Author agrees to indemnify and hold harmless:

• SUPERIORITAS

• Jury members

• Partners

• Institutions

• Affiliates

from any claims related to the submitted work.

8. Jury Structure and Decision Process

The Award is evaluated by an international jury composed of a minimum of three professionals.

Jurors may include:

• Artists

• Curators

• Critics

• Researchers

• Writers

• Cultural practitioners

Jurors may not participate as applicants.

All decisions regarding:

• Selection

• Finalists

• Winners

• Special Prizes

are final and not subject to appeal.

9. Curated Final Exhibition

Finalists are not simply listed.

Selected works are presented within a professionally curated exhibition framework.

Each edition develops a distinct curatorial concept that positions artworks within broader artistic, social, cultural, and theoretical contexts.

Finalists may be asked to provide additional documentation to support curatorial development.

10. Professionally Designed Digital Exhibition

The Final Exhibition is presented within a custom-designed digital environment created specifically for each edition.

This is not a template gallery.

Features may include:

• Immersive exhibition design

• Curatorial narrative

• Long-term accessibility

• Artist biographies

• Artwork documentation

• Contextual texts

11. Editorial Context and Publication

The exhibition is accompanied by an editorial program developed in collaboration with Imitazione.

This may include:

• Curatorial essays

• Interviews

• Critical texts

• Research-based publications

Each finalist may be invited to participate in an interview.

Publications may be:

• Digital

• Printed

• Internationally distributed

• Multilingual

12. Visibility, Archive, and Continuity

SUPERIORITAS prioritizes professional visibility rather than mass exposure.

The Award operates through:

• International jury networks

• Curatorial projects

• Editorial publications

• Long-term archival preservation

Finalist works become part of the permanent Award archive.

The Award is organized annually and builds continuity across editions.

13. Usage Rights

Artists grant SUPERIORITAS a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual license to reproduce and publish documentation related to finalist and awarded works for:

• Exhibitions

• Publications

• Archives

• Research

• Educational activities

All uses include full artist attribution.

Additional permissions will be requested for external uses unrelated to the Award.

14. Communication, Promotion, and Collaborative Visibility

14.1 Award Communication

Artists grant SUPERIORITAS the right to use submitted materials for Award-related communication, including:

• Open Call promotion

• Finalist announcements

• Winner announcements

• Editorial content

• Press releases

• Websites

• Newsletters

• Social media

• Digital archives

All uses are non-commercial and directly connected to the Award.

14.2 Artist Independence

Artists retain full ownership of their works and remain free to:

• Exhibit

• Publish

• Sell

• Distribute

their works independently at all times.

Participation imposes no restrictions on future professional activities.

14.3 Collaborative Visibility

Finalists and winners are encouraged, but not required, to acknowledge participation in SUPERIORITAS when presenting related projects.

SUPERIORITAS encourages:

• Shared announcements

• Cross-promotion

• Social media collaboration

• Mutual crediting

This remains voluntary and does not constitute a contractual obligation.

14.4 Long-Term Archival Context

SUPERIORITAS may continue to reference finalist and awarded works within:

• Archival presentations

• Retrospective publications

• Educational projects

• Research initiatives

Such references are intended to strengthen the professional visibility of participating artists.

15. Disqualification, Modifications, and Final Provisions

SUPERIORITAS reserves the right to:

• Disqualify submissions violating these Terms

• Revoke awards where necessary

• Modify schedules and timelines

• Postpone or cancel Award components in exceptional circumstances

Governing Interpretation

Participation in SUPERIORITAS constitutes full acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.

In the event of discrepancies between translated versions of these Terms and Conditions, the English version shall prevail.

These Terms and Conditions constitute the complete and binding agreement between the participant and SUPERIORITAS.