About
Why Social Art?
Social Art is any artistic expression that aims to create social impact and change. This definition delineates the intention of the artist as crucial. Art engages in questioning and rethinking existing systems and paradigms. Artists are visionaries, utopists, agents for change, with the ability to affect society by creating emotionally captivating experiences. It is aesthetic revolution that preludes societal revolution.
Vision
PEACE AND HEALTH FOR ALL
The Global Youth Call on peaceful and healthy societies is open until January 20, 2026. For the Youth Social Art Award we call on young creators to imagine peace in conflicted times. It focuses on social justice, mental and planetary health, and collective resilience — inspiring powerful works that confront crises and spark visions of hope, equity, and regeneration.
The Goal
The Social Art Award
The goal of this award (started in 2017) is to invigorate the rise of Social Art. We need more people to inspire zest for transformation – even if this approach dissents from the widely claimed autonomy of art. The award explores and clusters the field, and seeks to raise attention for Social Art. Furthermore, the award aims at strengthening the recognition of social artists and the value of their work. Thus, promoting the importance of Social Art for society and its action-oriented participatory projects.
Are you a Social Artist?
Save the date: November 17, 2025. We are proud to launch the Social Art Award 2025 Official Book at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belem, Brazil.
Mission
Our Mission
We deeply believe that we can only solve the complex global problems that humanity faces today with openness, inclusiveness, and purpose-driven collaboration at the intersection of art, science and innovation. With different events such as design labs, workshops, symposiums, social media campaigns and interviews, we want to explore new co-creation formats and catalyze empowering, innovative and bold interdisciplinary conversations that foster creative solutions and symbiotic actions.
Social Artist Network
2017
372
entries
131
countries
2019
558
entries
65
countries
2021
747
entries
147
countries
2025
922
entries
77
countries
The Organizer
Institute for Art and Innovation
The Institute for Art and Innovation (IFAI) strongly credits the arts to enhance our humanity, to stimulate us to action, and to connect people from around the world.
The organization specializes in the facilitation of transdisciplinary interventions and collaborations at the intersection of art, science, technology and innovation. We bring thought-provoking visions to regeneration to life and love to drive impact. Our interdisciplinary projects together with a global network provide: intelligent innovative strategies, enriching ideation and research, reach for new audiences, and knowledge aggregation, all while fostering tangible results.
The Institute is an independent, not-for-profit, non-governmental organization based in Berlin, Germany.
IT’S TIME TO CO-CREATE POSITIVE FUTURES!
Supporters
Our Network
We are proud of our supporters and join forces with progressive networks, amazing change-makers and initiatives as well as with forward-leading organizations. Grounded in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, we amplify youth-led creativity as a driving force for the triple transition — ecological, social, and digital. Together, we bring to life bold imaginaries for a just, regenerative, and inclusive world.
Contact
Reach out to us!
Institute for Art and Innovation e.V.
Kastanienallee 12
10435 Berlin
Phone +49 177 7878578
Fax +49 321 2113 4523
For general inquiries please contact us at
info@social-art-award.org
Partner requests are welcome at
sophie@social-art-award.org
For communications and media inquiries please contact us at
press@social-art-award.org
Support requests regarding the contest must be directed before the closing time to
support@social-art-award.org