How to Apply

To be eligible, you’ll need to be:

• A resident of Canada
• At least 18 years of age
• An emerging artist

We consider an emerging artist to be someone within the first seven years of their professional career, beginning with their first solo or group exhibition outside of an academic context (ex. a thesis show) in a museum, public or commercial gallery, or artist-run centre. Game developers and designers working in art / alt / experimental games, and web designers working in experimental, non-commercial web projects are also encouraged to apply. 

Applicants are not required to be current students or to have completed a degree in Fine Arts. We encourage all emerging artists matching our definition to apply.

Applicants are asked to submit their work to ONE of the following five award categories:

Still Image > A single image work, or interconnected series of images, created through digital processes such as generative imagery*, scanning technology, photo manipulation, illustration graphics, or renders of 3D models or virtual worlds.

Moving Image > A moving image work created through digital processes, including but not limited to video, animation, machinima, and GIF art.

Screen-Based Interactive > An interactive work experienced on a screen such as a computer, tablet, or mobile phone, including but not limited to game art, web art, and generative simulations.

Extended Reality (XR) > A virtual, augmented, or mixed reality work experienced through a smartphone, tablet, or headset, or as a 360-degree video.

Digital Installation > A multi-component, primarily screen-based work produced and presented with digital technologies that engages audiences in physical space and combines moving image, sound, interactivity, and/or movement.

*For generative imagery, please refer to the guidelines in next section: AI-Generated Artwork

To be eligible for consideration, the artwork must:

• Take the form of ‘Digital Art’, defined here as a screen-based artwork that demonstrates an engagement with digital technologies in the process of its creation. Analogue processes may be part of the work’s production, but the output must be digital. Digital documentation of traditional media will not be considered. Priority will be given to submissions that are considering the experimental, conceptual, and aesthetic potentials of digital tools and processes, as well as those engaging in art historical and contemporary art discourses
• Rely on the digital to exist, taking advantage of and experimenting with its immaterial qualities, and have a visual component (i.e. it cannot solely be sound-based). For entries with audio, applicants must either own copyright or have permission to use and credit accordingly
• Be submitted as a complete work (in progress artworks, teaser reels, or project proposals will not be considered)
• Be dated no earlier than five years prior to the submission deadline. Only one work per applicant can be considered

Work produced using digital tools alone without engaging with digital technologies, themes, aesthetics, concepts, or processes is unlikely to win. For example, an image simply taken with a digital camera does not necessarily constitute digital art

Priority will be given to works that are rooted in a contemporary art versus commercial art practice

AI-Generated Artwork

We do not accept submissions that are made solely by entering prompts into AI tools or by relying primarily on automated generative systems to produce the final artwork. However, we will consider submissions that engage with AI, machine learning, or other generative technologies in ways that are critical, thoughtful, experimental, and creatively rigorous. If your work uses AI-based tools, please explain how they were used, what decisions you made as the artist, and how the work engages critically with the technology, its systems, or its impacts when completing your application form

Submissions are assessed under five main criteria: 

1. Relevance
   The extent to which the work meets our qualification criteria as ‘Digital Art’, defined for the purposes of this award as a screen-based artwork that demonstrates an engagement with digital technologies in the process of its creation, and the extent to which the work operates within the umbrella of contemporary art.  
2. Technique
   The technical aspects of the work, including the approach to production and handling of the medium and the artists’ demonstrated command over the tools and programs used. 
3. Aesthetics
   The presentation of the work in relation to its technique and concept. This includes stylistic choices, historical and contemporary references, experimentation with form, and visual content.    
4. Concept
   The ideas and/or concerns driving the work, how they are embodied in the technical approach and stylistic choices, and the work’s relationship to historical and contemporary digital culture more broadly. 
5. Originality
   The extent to which the work reflects a nuanced perspective and unexpected or unique approach to digital art production.

Artist Statement 

Your written statement should briefly and succinctly address how your work meets the five evaluation criteria listed above. When writing, here are some questions to consider:  

• How does the work participate in a broader contemporary discourse around digital technologies, spaces, and objects? 
• How was your artwork made, and what technical skills or proficiencies are demonstrated in its creation? 
• How does the work’s aesthetic form and content relate to your overall intentions as an artist? 
• What are you trying to communicate through this work? 

Your application must include a link to view or download the artwork submission. Please refer to the guidelines below:

• Link to view artwork submission online
  If the artwork can be experienced online through a streaming service such as Vimeo or YouTube, or on your own website, please submit it as a link on the online application form. This is most applicable for Still Image category and Moving Image category submissions, but can also include browser-based games and websites in the Screen-Based Interactive category, and augmented reality works in the Extended Reality category.
• Link to download artwork submission
  For non-browser-based works in the Screen-Based Interactive category (ex. application-based game art) and Extended Reality category (ex. virtual reality), and all works in the Digital Installation category, please submit a link to download a full-resolution version of the work using a file sharing service such as Dropbox, Google Drive, or WeTransfer. Packaged files should be submitted as a .zip folder. Files will be downloaded within 30 days of submission. 

For artwork submissions that require specialized software and/or hardware to run, please include a supplementary link on the application form to either experience the work online or view a demo video of the work, which will allow each jury member to review and assess remotely.

If applicable, list specialized instructions to access and navigate the work (ex. software, hardware, operating system or platform requirements; password protections) on the application form or within your packaged submission folder. 

While there are no limitations on an artwork’s duration, if the submission exceeds 15 minutes, it is highly recommended that you submit an excerpt along with your original file(s).

Submitted artworks and applications must meet the following requirements: 

Submissions must follow the naming convention:
FirstInitialLastName_TitleOfWork

If you experience technical difficulties with your online application, contact us at edaa@eqbank.ca.

To be considered for the 2026 Award, please submit a completed online application form by September 15, 2026, 11:59pm ET, including:

• A curriculum vitae (CV) in either PDF or .doc format 
• A link to access and/or download your digital artwork
• A short artist biography (100 words max.) 
• A written statement about your work (200 words max.) 
• A confirmation that you agree to the Terms & Conditions