The NEWART Award ARCO, formerly known as the ARCO/BEEP Electronic Art Award, supports collecting and raises the profile of technological and digital art. The project began in 2003 with the BEEP Technological Art Award and gained fresh momentum in 2006 through its collaboration with ARCOmadrid. This development helped build the NEWART Collection and subsequently establish the NEWART Foundation and the NEWART Centre in Reus.

The 2026 award, organised in collaboration with ARCOmadrid and Arts Connection Foundation, recognised two works that make significant use of digital technologies or electronic art. The acquisition award, endowed with €30,000, was decided on 5 March 2026 at IFEMA Madrid, during the fair held from 4 to 8 March.

The jury recognised Julia Scher for Avi Loeb, presented by Esther Schipper gallery. Named after the astrophysicist Avi Loeb, the work recreates a telescope equipped with surveillance tools, including sensors, cameras and amplifiers. It reflects on contemporary systems of observation and control, a central focus in the practice of this pioneering new media artist.

Jonas Englert was also recognised for Movimiento, presented by Anita Beckers gallery. Against a backdrop of abundant, rapidly circulating images, the work invites viewers to pause and rediscover the time needed to contemplate art, reconsidering the relationship between the viewer and the artistic experience.

The award enables the selected works to join the NEWART Collection. Collaboration with Arts Connection Foundation extends the project’s international reach and creates opportunities to exhibit the works at the Miami New Media Festival.

After more than two decades, the NEWART Award ARCO continues to encourage collecting, raise artists’ profiles and support the professional development of technological art. This legacy is reflected today in the commitment of the NEWART Foundation and the NEWART Centre to the production, exhibition and conservation of digital and technological art.