UN Art Gold Award Selection Process
(2024 Revised Edition - Compliant with UNESCO Cultural Conventions)

Phase I: Global Nominations (January - March)

A. Eligibility Criteria

• • Open to: Individuals/Groups (No age/nationality restrictions)
• • Art Forms: Painting, Sculpture, Digital Art, Installation, Performance, Mixed Media
• • Core Requirement: Must clearly reflect at least 1 UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)

B. Nomination Channels

1. 1. Institutional Partners (200+ UNESCO-certified Museums/Biennales)
2. 2. National Arts Committees (Government-recommended submissions)
3. 3. Open Application (via online portal, no fees)

C. Preliminary Screening

• • Secretariat reviews materials (resume, portfolio, SDG impact statement)
• • 30% of incomplete/ non-compliant applications are eliminated

Phase II: Continental Shortlists (April - May)

A. Regional Jury Panels

• • 6 jury groups (1 group per continent), each with 5 experts
• • Evaluation Matrix:
• • Artistic Value (40%): Originality, Technical Mastery
• • SDG Relevance (30%): Measurable social/environmental impact
• • Cultural Significance (20%): Heritage preservation/intercultural dialogue
• • Public Engagement (10%): Evidence of community involvement

B. Results

• • Global Top 20 finalists announced on June 1st (maximum of 3 per continent)

Phase III: Final Review (June - July)

A. Physical Assessment

• • Shortlisted works exhibited in the neutral exhibition area of the UN Office in Geneva
• • Conservation experts verify materials/sources

B. Hybrid Jury Deliberation

1. 1. Blind Review Stage
• • Jurors access anonymized digital portfolios
• • Scoring via encrypted voting system
2. 2. On-site Debate Stage
• • 9-member Final Jury (rotated from a pool of 30 pre-screening experts)
• • Declaration of conflicts of interest required

C. External Verification

• • Public voting via certified online platform (10% weight)
• • AI analysis of global media/social sentiment

Phase IV: Award Ceremony and Follow-up (August - December)

A. Announcement during UN General Assembly Week

• • Winners revealed during the third week of September at the UN General Assembly in New York
• • Award Categories:
• • Golden Laurel Prize (1 Grand Champion)
• • Medal of Excellence (3 winners in different fields)
• • Rising Star Award (for winners under 30 years old)

B. Transparency Measures

• • Full jury voting records published (with personal comments redacted)
• • Open 3-month appeal period for the process

C. Follow-up Plans

• • Touring exhibitions to 15+ UNESCO Creative Cities
• • 5-year SDG impact tracking report

Core Innovations

1. 1. Blockchain Certification
• • All submission records logged on the UN private blockchain
• • Smart contracts handle copyright splits
2. 2. Carbon-neutral Process
• • Preliminary reviews conducted virtually
• • Transportation emissions offset through the ART 2030 Climate Fund
3. 3. Bias Prevention Mechanisms
• • Algorithms detect juror bias patterns
• • Jury gender/region quotas implemented