Goodmesh Concours: a competition like no other

Celebrating five years of multidisciplinary artistry with ARTificial

Group Photo of Winners of the Audience Prize and Responsible AI Prize - Wisse Scheel and Apollon on stage with ARTficial 2024 banner behind them — Group photo of all the participants, jury and Responsible AI jury (Microsoft and FrieslandCampina)

Goodmesh Concours, the multidisciplinary art competition, proudly marked its fifth anniversary Finale on November 25 2024 at the prestigious Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

For this milestone fifth anniversary edition, Goodmesh hosted what it said was, “its most ambitious theme yet”. Entitled ‘ARTificial’ this year’s theme explored how artificial intelligence (AI) increasingly permeates creative domains. Artists were invited to explore the complex interplay between humanity and technology.

Previous themes, such as ‘Body Respect’, ‘Expectations vs Reality’, ‘Fish’, and ‘Full Moon’ sparked thought-provoking and visually stunning performances, showcasing the breadth of artistic expression from around the globe.

This year’s thrilling performances were equally inspiring and innovative.

Read on to discover more about Goodmesh Concours and ARTificial.

Winners of the Audience Prize and Responsible AI Prize - Wisse Scheele (dancer) and Apollon — Winners of the Audience Prize and Responsible AI Prize Wisse Scheele (left) and Apollon Kalamenios (right) during their performance Echoes of a Lost Bird

A global leader

Goodmesh Concours is a pioneer in multidisciplinary art competitions, transcending traditional boundaries and fostering collaboration across diverse artistic realms. It has a steadfast commitment to celebrating all artists and art forms with an aim to redefine the contemporary art landscape, inspiring innovation and exploration.

Since its inception in 2019, Goodmesh Concours has challenged participants to break free from traditional notions of art and music by integrating multiple disciplines into dynamic, performance-based creations.

Embracing the ethos of ‘Arts Unite – Art Unites’, the competition fosters collaboration among artists from various backgrounds, inviting them to merge music with visual art, dance, theatre, and more.

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Goodmesh 2024 winners FEVER performing - two artists on stage in masks, dark blue lighting — First Prize Winners FEVER during their performance

Inspiring artists in 2024

Each year, Goodmesh Concours selects a theme to ignite imagination and guide participants in their creative journey. Previous themes, such as ‘Body Respect’, ‘Expectations vs Reality’, ‘Fish’, and ‘Full Moon’ have sparked thought-provoking and visually stunning performances, showcasing the breadth of artistic expression from around the globe. This year’s theme, ‘ARTificial’, showcased some of the most innovative performances yet.

The competition was won by AgusFulka’s FEVER who captivated audiences with their unique interpretations of humanity and technology. FEVER brought to the stage a raw and mystical performance where acoustic instruments and electronics met immersive visual projections in a ritualistic suite inspired by Argentinian and Spanish folklore, as well as jazz music and techno.

The second prize went to a performance titled, /search?q=love, by Agustín Issidoro and Julia Sanjurjo, in which AI played a multifaceted role, shaping both the content and form of the performance. The evening also saw the Audience Prize awarded to Wisse Scheele and Apollon Kalemenios for their touching performance Echoes of a Lost Bird, combining music with dance and visuals.

See the winners

Group Photo of all the participants, jury and Responsible AI jury (Microsoft and FrieslandCampina) — Winners of the Audience Prize and Responsible AI Prize - Wisse Scheele and Apollon Kalamenios with Goodmesh Founders and Responsible AI jury (Microsoft and FrieslandCampina)

Introducing a new prize

Another highlight of the 2024 edition was the introduction of the Responsible AI Prize, made possible by partners Microsoft and FrieslandCampina. The prize honours the group that best demonstrated a responsible approach to AI, leveraging technology as a force for social good.It was judged by a distinguished panel from Microsoft (Ben Kuzey, Anke den Ouden, Rob Elsinga) and FrieslandCampina (Burce Gultekin). The recipients of this year’s award, Wisse Scheele and Apollon Kalamenios, will be showcasing their performance Echoes of a Lost Bird at the FrieslandCampina General Leadership meeting and a Microsoft offsite gathering in spring 2025.

First Prize Winner FEVER band leader Agus Fulka during their performance -young man with curly hair sat down playing a guitar — First Prize Winner FEVER band leader Agus Fulka during their performance

Rewarding art

Each year, Goodmesh Concours assembles a panel of specialists from diverse artistic fields to serve as jurors, offering personalised feedback and guidance to participants, enriching their creative process and facilitating artistic development.

In addition to invaluable feedback from the jury, participants win a range of prizes designed to support their artistic endeavours, including performance opportunities at prestigious venues, cash awards, and international press exposure. Winners also receive practical support through professional photoshoots and video recordings, enhancing their visibility in the art world and advancing their careers.

Second Prize Winner Julia Sanjurjo performing /search?q=love

Celebrating innovation

The Goodmesh team, including Jacques Goddijn, Aliaksandra Pirazhenka, and Janina Lorenci, alongside the esteemed jury, marked this fifth anniversary with pride, as well as great anticipation for the future of the competition.

With a dedication to uniting artists in purpose and creativity, Goodmesh Concours will continue to redefine the boundaries of multidisciplinary art, inspiring collaboration and innovation in an age of rapid technological change.

Click below for more information about Goodmesh Concours.

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j.lorenci@goodmesh.nl
e.rudzinska@goodmesh.nl