Art, XR & Impact Opportunities

The Iris Prize is the world's largest LGBTQ+ short film prize. The best international short wins £30,000 and the best British or Irish short wins £10,000. Films must be under 40 minutes and completed within the last two years. Submissions accepted via FilmFreeway.

UBS Project Female Founder is an 8-week investor readiness programme for early-stage female founders seeking their first professional funding round. Open to women-majority-owned companies with a product in development or on market and up to $1M raised. Two cohorts run April–May 2026.

XR Guild NYC is hosting a special edition event for NYC-based participants from MIT Reality Hack. Attendees can demo hackathon projects and give short presentations to the XR community, followed by networking sessions.

International award for art created with technology. Open call runs Jan 26–May 23, 2026; see the Lumen Prize site for categories and entry fees.

Youth fellowship by Climate Champions (2025 cycle). This link is for the 2025 call; check the page for cycle dates and whether a 2026 call is posted.

Open call presented by the XR Women Museum inviting submissions around the theme “Vibrancy as Practice.” Submit via the official form linked from the call announcement. Check the external link for the most current submission requirements and timeline.

Global network connecting youth-led organizations working on climate action, education, heritage, science, and communication. Members collaborate, access capacity-building, share knowledge, and participate in UNESCO climate initiatives.

VIVERSE's Creator Program offers creator grants to help developers, artists, and storytellers build web-based 3D immersive experiences, including interactive worlds, immersive art, and next-gen games and storytelling. The program highlights support for building, testing, and deploying across mobile, desktop, and VR, with creator resources and community support. Apply via the VIVERSE Create portal.

The Holy Art Gallery's "Not Your Grandma's Gallery" is an ongoing open call series for artists worldwide, positioned as high-energy, contemporary exhibitions across different cities. Listings typically note exhibition dates and a deadline to apply that may be marked as TBC depending on the edition. Check the current call page/post for the specific city, exhibition dates, and the latest submission deadline.

International youth summit in Dubai (UAE), February 11-14, 2026, focused on the intersection of technology and diplomacy, including themes like AI governance, digital diplomacy, and cross-cultural leadership. Participation categories include Fully Funded, Partially Funded, Free Access, and Self-Funded options. Application deadline: December 25, 2025.