12th International Awards for Art Criticism (IAAC 12) are open for submissions

During the launch ceremony, Ling Min, board member of the International Awards for Art Criticism (IAAC) Organising Committee reflected: ‘Over the past 12 years, IAAC has received more than 2,000 submissions in Chinese and English, covering over 70 countries worldwide. These international awards not only provide an important platform for writers to critique contemporary art exhibitions, but more significantly, they document our time through these exhibitions. Whilst exhibitions come and go, criticism endures — IAAC itself has become a repository for artistic and cultural phenomena. As it enters its 12th year, IAAC is about to turn a new page. Firstly, the Shanghai Zhangyuan Art Museum has joined as a co-organiser. Secondly, IAAC will collaborate with e-flux, aiming to invite past jurors and winners to collaborate on multiple research projects."

Sun Xiangchen, Professor at the School of Philosophy at Fudan University, and Executive Dean of the Fudan Art Institute stated: ‘Contemporary art criticism is forging an unprecedentedly close connection with philosophy and technology. This trend coincides perfectly with the interdisciplinary spirit advocated by the School of Philosophy at Fudan University. The newly established Master of Philosophy, Art, and Humanistic Science & Technology (MAPS) degree programme precisely targets this core of contemporary art development. We believe that without understanding technology, one cannot touch upon the authentic existential conditions of contemporary life; without employing philosophical critique, art criticism risks becoming a mere appendage to technology. IAAC is a vivid reflection of this spirit, encouraging critics to maintain unique human reflection amidst the rapid surge of technology."

Representing the Shanghai Zhangyuan Art Museum (in preparation), the team from Shanghai Xinyi Jing'an Cultural Development Co., Ltd. — which has joined as a co-organiser of the International Awards for Art Criticism in 2026 — stated: ‘Since the establishment of Jinghua Cultural Development Group 25 years ago, investing in cultural undertakings has always been at the core of our development strategy. We are deeply aware that true cultural responsibility extends beyond the market operation of industries, it lies in the long-term nurturing of academic value. As one of Shanghai's most historically profound and culturally vibrant landmarks, the soon-to-be-established Zhangyuan Art Museum has, since its inception, anchored its core positioning as a 'global cultural connector and international art dialogue hub', it is dedicated to building a research-oriented art museum in China that faces the world. The collaboration between the Zhangyuan Art Museum and IAAC will serve as a starting point to further integration with
international institutions, creating a contemporary art research platform with global influence.’

Concurrent with the IAAC 12 launch, the ‘Artificial Intelligence and Writing/ Change of Art’ workshop was held at the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute. The workshop investigated the practical impacts exerted by AI technology on writing and art through a questioning perspective, creative inspiration and theoretical discussion. As a co-organiser of the event, Jiao Xingtao, Dean of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute stated: ‘IAAC upholds extremely high academic standards and an independent spirit, breaking down the barriers of language and geography to let the world hear the voice of Chinese contemporary art criticism. Nowadays, facing the comprehensive impact of AI technology on fields such as art education, art practice and theoretical research, the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute continues to promote innovation in education and teaching, focuses on the integration of technology and the humanities, embraces change, and anchors its core mission on building a leading nation in education. Meanwhile, the school aims to allow art to step into the lively streets of the Chongqing city, becoming a cultural feast shared by citizens.’

The IAAC 12 international jury comprises five members:

Fiona Bradley, Director, Fruitmarket, Edinburgh.

Ben Eastham, art critic and novelist based in London. He is the editor-in-chief of e-flux Criticism.

Richard J. Williams, Professor of Contemporary Visual Cultures at the University of Edinburgh.

WANG Pu, Associate Professor of Chinese Literature and Culture and Chair of the Department of German, Russian and Asian Languages and Literature, Brandeis University.

XIANG Zairong, Associate Professor of Comparative Literature and Director of Arts at Duke Kunshan University

The closing date for entries is 7 June.

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