The future of culture is being written today — by innovators who are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible at the intersection of creativity and technology. This year, .ART Registry, in collaboration with GP Bullhound Allstars, is proud to present the five finalists for the Digital Innovation in Arts & Culture Award 2025 (DIAC).

Chosen by a distinguished jury of leaders from across the art, culture, and tech sectors, these finalists represent the most compelling examples of how digital tools can make art more accessible, more trusted, and more alive in our world.

As Ulvi Kasimov, Founder of .ART Registry, puts it:

“The five finalists represent the very best of how innovation can serve culture. Their projects prove that technology is not an end in itself, but a powerful means to make art more accessible, trusted, and alive in the world today.”

Let’s meet the finalists (in alphabetical order).

Artcrush (Belgium)

Artcrush is transforming cityscapes into cultural landmarks by turning billboards into open-air digital galleries. In just three years, they’ve deployed over 15,000 screens across 15 countries — showcasing art daily to millions of passersby. This approach redefines what public art can be: unexpected, dynamic, and woven into the rhythms of everyday life.

“Artcrush being named a finalist for the Digital Innovation in Arts & Culture Award 2025 marks our first international recognition. In just 3 years, we’ve deployed 15,000+ digital billboards across 15+ countries, showcasing outstanding art daily — a validation of both our global impact and the scalability of our model.” — Mathieu France, CEO, Artcrush

Loupe Art (United States)

Imagine turning your TV, your office lobby, or even a hospital waiting room into a curated art gallery. Loupe Art makes this possible with the world’s first streaming platform for visual art. Acquired by Stingray in 2024, Loupe now delivers curated channels of artwork to homes, hotels, hospitals, and businesses across the globe — all while licensing art directly from contemporary artists.

“Loupe Art is honored to be a finalist for the Digital Innovation in Arts & Culture Award. This recognition celebrates our mission of connecting global audiences with contemporary artists in new and meaningful ways. We’re excited to continue pushing the boundaries of how art is experienced in homes, businesses, public spaces, and beyond.” — Gabriella Silvagnoli, Curator, Loupe Art

Peggy (Canada)

Peggy is reshaping the art market with a social marketplace that combines AI authentication, resale royalties, and mobile-first design. Collectors gain transparency and confidence, while artists benefit financially every time their work changes hands. With over 30 partner galleries and a fast-growing community of collectors, Peggy is building a new kind of art economy — one that is equitable, accessible, and global.

“This is a profound honor that we share with our entire community. The recognition belongs to the incredible artists, galleries, and collectors on Peggy who are together building a more accessible and connected art world. Our technology and infrastructure exist for one reason: to empower this community and advance our shared vision of seeing art in every home. A heartfelt thank you to the Peggy team for their tireless work over the years, and to .ART for celebrating the community’s collective achievements.” — Craig Follett, Co-founder & CEO, Peggy

SmartStamp (Switzerland)

Authentication is one of the biggest challenges in the art world — and SmartStamp has created a breakthrough solution. Spun out of ETH Zürich, one of the world’s leading technical universities, SmartStamp turns any smartphone into a biometric scanner. By capturing the micro-surface of an artwork, they generate a tamper-proof digital passport that anchors provenance and compliance on blockchain. The result: instant, trustworthy authentication that empowers artists, collectors, and institutions alike.

“Less paperwork > More certainty > Better art practice. This finalist nod is about turning provenance into something you can trust (in seconds). Give artworks a digital identity and intelligent archive to make admin of it easy and fun.” — Jonas Kastenhuber, CCO, SmartStamp

WHATCLASS (United Kingdom)

WHATCLASS is reinventing cultural education by merging the worlds of streaming, music, and accredited learning. Backed by ABRSM and supported by major streaming partners, the platform turns artists into educators and fans into learners. With over 100 artists already on board, WHATCLASS offers AI-personalised classes and a fan-powered IP model that makes learning participatory, scalable, and revenue-generating for creators. It’s nothing less than a new model for cultural education in the digital age.

“WHATCLASS is creating the category-defining platform for arts education, where real human artists own their knowledge, earn from it, and fans learn directly from them. Being a DIAC finalist signals a new era of cultural accredited education, with a model designed to scale globally, just like streaming itself.” — Austen Smart, CEO, WHATCLASS

Supporting Innovation with .ART

As part of its mission to support innovation in the cultural sector, .ART will award digital credits to all honorees after the award ceremony — offering up to $10,000 in Get.art credits. These credits will empower innovators to strengthen their digital presence and expand their projects with .ART domain names.

The winners will be revealed at the Allstars Gala in London on October 16, 2025, where Europe’s leading innovators and investors will gather to celebrate the power of technology in culture.

Read the official press-release.