Our Rubric

The voters evaluate every application based on 3 main criteria: Artistry, Immersiveness, and Feasibility. Below you will find the questions the judges use to determine how well a project represents the 3 main criteria. It is our hope that providing an outline of our rubric will aid you in crafting your application. 

Artistry

COHERENCE

Does the chosen format/medium support and strengthen the project’s central idea or message? 

EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE

Does the work have emotional, as well as intellectual, resonance?

COMMUNAL MEANING 

Does the work help create a sense of shared understanding or collective meaning that transcends individual perspective and experience?

RISK-TAKING 

Does the work challenge prevailing standards, values, or narratives in a way that meaningfully advances its purpose or encourages new perspectives?

OPENNESS 

Does the art and/or its process allow for a variety of engagement levels, accommodations, and/or accessibility needs? 

STICKINESS

Does this project support continued engagement, ongoing dialogue, or further impact beyond a single experience?

Immersiveness

AUDIENCE AGENCY & PARTICIPATION

How meaningful are the choices/actions that influence their experience?

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIVENESS & INTERACTIVITY

Does the environment respond dynamically to participant behavior? Are there interactive elements that react, change, or adapt based on engagement?

SENSORY EXPERIENCE 

Does the project have sensory elements (e.g., sound, smell, tactile components, etc.) that enhance its core themes or messages?

TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE

Does the experience transport the audience into another reality or state, making them feel fully integrated and immersed rather than simply observing?

Feasibility

TIMELINE 

Are the timeline and milestones realistic and clearly defined?

BUDGET

Is the budget realistic and sufficiently detailed? Do the line items show that they understand what is required to execute this idea and does it seem plausible for this person to secure them?

APPLICANT CAPACITY & EXPERIENCE

Does the applicant have the experience, skill set, or access to the appropriate assistance to complete a project of this scale and complexity?