The Surveillance Studies Network (SSN) is dedicated to the study of surveillance in all its forms. It promotes innovative and multidisciplinary work on surveillance, including research that bridges different academic fields, furthers the understanding of surveillance in wider society, and informs information policy and political debate. As a registered charitable company, the SSN is committed to the free distribution of scholarly products, including the publication of Surveillance & Society, the leading peer-reviewed journal dedicated to surveillance studies.

As part of its mandate, the SSN seeks to encourage creative and artistic practices engaging with the topic of surveillance. As such, the Surveillance Studies Network Arts Prize is a bi-annual award that recognizes and publicly supports artwork centred on critical readings of surveillance. Following the success of its previous Arts Prizes in 2018, 2020, and 2022, the SSN is delighted to announce the call for nominations to the 2024 competition.

Award

All submissions are adjudicated by a committee composed of members of the SSN board. The award for first prize is £250 and up to three honourable mentions will receive £100. Additionally, the winner and each honourable mention will receive a fee waiver for conference registration at the forthcoming SSN Conference (location and date TBA) in summer 2024, as well as coverage in a Surveillance & Society forum and the blink blog discussing the work. Travel support may also be available, funds permitting. Winning artists will also receive an invitation to showcase their work, or a representation of it, in a virtual exhibition during SSN’s 2024 conference. 

Please note that, due to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, the format of the 2024 SSN conference and thus the administration of the Arts Prize may be subject to change to accommodate changing public health measures.

The nominated work must be an original art project that was produced or exhibited in the 2020, 2021, or 2022 calendar years. The following criteria will be used to adjudicate the nominations:

·   demonstrates a thematic fit with the critical orientation of the Surveillance Studies Network and Surveillance & Society;

·   exhibits theoretical sophistication;

·   produces new and unique ways of thinking about modes of surveillance;

·   and promotes audience engagements.

Deadlines and Forms

The call for nominations closes on 15 July 2023 at 11:59pm EST, with the selected artworks announced in December 2023. To nominate an artwork for the upcoming competition, please download and complete the following form: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ENj5aqOI5EBhoZe-4xvk8JJesr930F8lbWT8mmetkPA/edit

Self-nominations are welcome.

For further information, please contact Julia Chan, Arts Committee Co-Chair at julia.chan@ucalgary.ca and include the heading “SSN Arts Prize.”

*Submission forms are hosted by Google. For a PDF version, please send a request to julia.chan@ucalgary.ca with the heading “SSN Arts Prize form—PDF request.”