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Open Call for Generative Artists

Humanity’s ultimate question: Are we alone in the universe or is there life somewhere?

Closing date for submitting digital works:

Foundation prize money:

October 31, 2024

€ 1,000 for the 1st prize
€ 500 for the 2nd prize
€ 500 for the 3rd prize

star cluster M13

The art meets science – Herbert W. Franke Foundation is issuing the open call titled “Contact Attempt – the 50th Anniversary of the Arecibo Message”, a competition for generative artists all over the world. The competition is linked to an important event in the history of mankind: November 16th, 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the first large-scale scientific attempt to make contact with an alien intelligence via radio transmission. The signals were sent into space on the occasion of the inauguration of an upgrade to the world’s largest radio telescope at the time, located in Arecibo (Puerto Rico).

The target of the signal was the globular star cluster M13 in the constellation of Hercules, around 25,000 light years away from Earth. It contains over 300,000 individual stars in a relatively small space.

The message consists of a total of 1679 bits. The encoded data of the black and white image on the left contains a digital representation of our number system, as well as information on chemical elements, the DNA, the solar system, humans and the location of the telescope. The signal then was transmitted in 10 bit/s with a transmission power of 450 kilowatt on a carrier frequency of 2.388 gigahertz – corresponding to a radio wavelength of 12.6 cm, which is apt to penetrate planetary atmospheres.

Whether only earth has developed life in the cosmic evolution is a question that fascinates more than just scientists. The Arecibo message of 1974 documents mankind’s great desire to explore whether or not we are alone in the universe and – if not – how we can make contact with extraterrestrial intelligent life forms. In science fiction, this question is one of the central themes.

The Arecibo Message is still a unique event in the history of astronomy and even mankind. It is closely linked to the literary work and philosophic ideas of Herbert W. Franke and has also a strong relation to the science-historical research work of his former wife, the foundation’s founder Susanne Paech. Among other things, she has researched science in science fiction in the 1970s. The Herbert W. Franke Foundation wants to encourage artists by a worldwide competition to reflect on the Arecibo Message and the related question to get in contact with alien intelligences in a generative work. 

Upon submission for “Contact Attempt”, the non-exclusive publication rights of the work by each participating artist is granted to the art meets science – Foundation Herbert W. Franke for an unlimited period of time. The foundation is responsible for the first publication and premiere of all works. Submitted works may not be published or shared before Nov. 19, 2024. The work may then also be offered for sale as an NFT by the artist. However, it must always be mentioned that it is a work that was created and submitted for the open call “Contact Attempt” of the art meets science – Foundation Herbert W. Franke and, if applicable, was awarded a prize. In return, the foundation undertakes to disclose the name(s) of the artist(s) whenever the work is published by the foundation. 

© Planetarium Bochum

The work can be a digital audio or video to be submitted via download. The length of the work should be not longer than 5 minutes. It can consist of:

+++ images/video/animation – sound and/or speech

+++ image format: 16:9 in 2K or 4K – image & video format: mp4
sound: stereo – length not longer than 5 minutes.

+++ full dome format also welcome

(2048×2048 or 4096 x 4096 pixels)
audio specifications for full dome presentations on request

+++ a few explaining sentences about the context of the work and Arecibo Message are necessary.

+++ submission website for Open Call:  https://site.picter.com/contact-attempt

A report about the history by Susanne Paech and statements of Radioastronomer and senior scientist of SETI Institute Seth Shostak telling why the Arecibo Message is so remarkable.

Susanne Paech (Publisher & Foundation Herbert W. Franke)
Anika Meier (curator & publicist)
Seth Shostak (Radioastronomer & Senior Scientist SETI Institute)
Thomas Kraupe (consultant for science & immersive worlds)
Björn Wirtjes (Planet KA)

All participating works will be presented in a special screening at the Planetarium Bochum (Germany) on November 18, 2024 as part of an event to mark the anniversary. This event will include the world premiere of a work commissioned by the foundation from the world-renowned poet and AI artist Sasha Stiles. The works submitted for the competition will be additionally shown at this event. Further performances in planetariums worldwide are being planned.

Initiators of the Competition:
The open call was initiated by the art meets science – Foundation Herbert W. Franke and PLANET KA.

Legal recourse is excluded.