Hack The Arts is a global, online hackathon inviting participants to explore how technology can unlock entirely new forms of creative expression. The challenge is centered on the theme: “Create art that couldn’t exist without technology.” Rather than using code as a tool to replicate traditional art, participants are encouraged to build projects that define new artistic mediums through interactivity, computation, and intelligent systems.
Submissions may include generative art, interactive experiences, creative coding tools, AI-assisted artistic workflows, or entirely new forms of digital expression. Strong projects will go beyond static outputs, emphasizing systems that respond, evolve, or engage users in meaningful ways. Participants are encouraged to experiment, take creative risks, and think critically about how technology shapes the way art is created and experienced. Hack The Arts is open to beginners and experienced builders alike. Whether you are a developer, designer, or artist, the goal is to learn, build, and push the boundaries of what art can be in a digital world.
Participants must register for the hackathon on Devpost and join the Discord server. Teams can consist of up to four participants or individuals can work alone. During the official Build Period, participants use any tools, frameworks, or technologies to build their projects. Optional workshops, mentorship sessions, and community events are available for guidance. Submissions must include a working project demo (live link or recorded video), a publicly accessible source code repository, a written project description, and clear attribution for third-party assets. All work must be created substantially during the Build Period.
Prizes include: * Best Overall Project: $1000 USD in cash & 2x .xyz domains * Best Interactive Experience: 2x .xyz domains * Best Beginner Project: 2x .xyz domains * Most Unique: 2x .xyz domains * Crowd Favorite: 2x .xyz domains
Judging criteria are: * Creativity & Originality (30%): Is this a new form of art or interaction? * Use of Technology (25%): Does the project meaningfully leverage code/AI? * Interactivity & Experience (20%): Is the project engaging or immersive? * Execution (15%): How polished and functional is it? * Theme Alignment (10%): Does it embody “art that couldn’t exist without technology”?