Frequently asked questions.

Latent Hacks is a youth-first open call and curated exhibition project for young creators aged 13-18.

It invites young creators to turn the question "Who am I?" into interactive works and experiences using image, sound, writing, code, games, performance, objects, AI, or mixed media.

Not in the usual sense.

Latent Hacks is not a speed-coding event where everyone has to build something in one weekend. The focus is on creative works, personal questions, interaction, experience, and public presentation.

No.

Coding can be part of a work, but it is not required. You can work with film, writing, animation, sound, performance, objects, design, games, AI tools, physical materials, or mixed media.

No.

AI can be part of the work, but Latent Hacks is not about simply generating images or showing off tools. We are interested in how young creators use, question, shape, combine, reject, or transform AI as part of a meaningful creative experience.

"Who am I?" is the central creative question.

You can respond to it personally, emotionally, playfully, critically, visually, technically, or experimentally. Your work might explore memory, identity, culture, language, body, online self, future self, family, place, imagination, uncertainty, or a question you cannot fully answer yet.

Latent Hacks is for young creators aged 13-18, globally.

You might be interested in art, design, film, animation, sound, writing, coding, games, performance, AI, media, or something that does not fit neatly into one category.

No.

You do not need to already be highly experienced. You can register interest if you have a rough idea, a small experiment, a work in progress, or simply a strong interest in the theme.

Yes.

Latent Hacks is open to young creators at different levels. A strong idea, honest question, or thoughtful experiment can be more important than polished technical skill.

The current intended age range is 13-18.

If you are younger than 13 and strongly interested, you may still register interest or ask a parent, teacher, or mentor to contact us. Final participation details may depend on safety, permissions, and the structure of the open call.

The creator open call is designed for ages 13-18.

People over 18 can still support the project as teachers, mentors, recommenders, partners, advisors, or supporters.

Yes.

Latent Hacks is a global Founding Open Call. The early interest form is open to young creators, teachers, mentors, communities, and supporters internationally.

Yes, team-based work may be possible.

You can register interest as an individual or mention that you may want to collaborate with others. More detailed team rules will be shared later in the submission guidelines.

You could make an interactive website, game, interface, digital system, film, animation, sound piece, story, performance, object, installation, wearable, mixed-media work, or another form of creative experience.

The format is flexible. What matters is that the work connects meaningfully to the question "Who am I?" and creates an experience for others.

It should create some kind of experience for an audience.

Interaction can be simple or complex. It might involve choices, movement, sound, space, participation, changing images, a playable system, a physical object, a performance, a narrative structure, or a way for the audience to respond.

Yes.

A film, animation, sound work, or story can fit Latent Hacks if it connects to the theme and creates a strong experience. It does not need to be a traditional website or app.

Yes.

Objects, wearables, installations, printed materials, handmade works, performance elements, and physical prototypes can all be relevant if they connect to the theme and experience.

Possibly, yes.

A work may be new, ongoing, or developed from an existing piece, as long as it connects meaningfully to the theme and you have the right to share it. More detailed rules about existing works, credits, permissions, and copyright will be included in the submission guidelines.

No.

At this stage, Latent Hacks is collecting early interest. You do not need a finished work to register.

You can register with a rough idea, a small experiment, a work in progress, or simply an interest in receiving prompts, examples, updates, and next steps.

Yes.

You can register interest even if you only have a general interest. Later updates may include examples, prompts, and possible starting points.

Latent Hacks is focused on AI-assisted and AI-related creative work, so AI should be involved in some meaningful way.

That does not mean AI has to make the whole work. AI can be a tool, material, collaborator, system, constraint, research method, character, interface, or question inside the work.

No.

Your final work does not need to look like typical AI-generated images. It can be quiet, handmade, physical, personal, narrative, performative, technical, visual, sound-based, or mixed-media.

Yes.

You may use AI tools as part of your creative process, as long as you make thoughtful choices and can explain how you used them. More detailed guidance about AI disclosure and credits will be shared later.

Yes.

AI can help with coding, writing, research, sketching, prototyping, editing, testing, or generating options. The important part is how you direct, select, change, combine, and develop the result.

Yes.

Your work does not have to celebrate AI. It can question AI, resist it, show its limits, explore its effects, or use it as a way to think about identity, creativity, memory, language, or the future.

No.

The early interest form is not the final submission form. You do not need to submit a finished work at this stage.

You may receive updates about the Founding Open Call, examples of possible works, creative prompts, submission details, deadlines, and next steps.

The current Open Call 00 submission deadline is Sunday 19 July 2026, 11:59pm AEST.

Exhibition and public presentation details will be shared separately, and public use of any work requires separate permission.

Yes.

Registering early interest is free.

If your information changes, you may submit an updated response. Please avoid submitting the same information many times unless you need to correct or update something important.

No.

Registering interest does not make your work, idea, or personal details public.

Public features, exhibitions, creator profiles, or publication of work would require separate permission.

No.

Please do not include private personal details, sensitive information, home addresses, private school information, or anything you would not want shared with the Latent Hacks team.

You remain the creator of your work.

Latent Hacks may ask for permission later to show, feature, publish, or exhibit selected works. Details about permissions and usage rights will be provided before any public presentation.

Be careful.

You should only use material that you created, have permission to use, or are legally allowed to use. More detailed guidance about copyright, credits, AI-generated material, and third-party assets will be included in the submission guidelines.

For some stages, yes, parent or guardian permission may be needed, especially for public exhibition, publication, media, or participation involving younger creators.

More details will be provided before any formal submission or public feature.

Yes.

Teachers, parents, mentors, friends, and community leaders can register interest, recommend a young creator, or connect Latent Hacks with a school, community, cultural space, or supporter.

Yes.

Schools, youth organisations, cultural spaces, media labs, community groups, and creative organisations can register interest or contact Latent Hacks about possible collaboration, promotion, mentoring, workshops, talks, or exhibition support.

Potentially, yes.

Mentorship may be part of future stages, but it needs to be structured carefully. Adults interested in supporting young creators can register interest or contact Latent Hacks.

Yes.

You can support by recommending creators, sharing the open call, connecting us with schools or communities, offering mentorship, supporting exhibition opportunities, funding the first exhibition, or helping us reach young creators who may be interested.

No.

Funding helps make production, documentation, and public presentation possible. It does not buy selection, awards, exhibition placement, curatorial influence, or access to minors' private information.

Latent Hacks is fiscally sponsored through HCB / The Hack Foundation, and funding conversations should go through the exhibition fund page.

Open Call 00 is live for early interest and review-only direction submissions.

The current submission deadline is Sunday 19 July 2026, 11:59pm AEST. More examples, prompts, submission guidance, and exhibition plans may be added as the founding cycle develops.

Selection details will be shared with the formal submission guidelines.

Latent Hacks is interested in works with strong ideas, meaningful connection to the theme, thoughtful use of AI or interactive experience, and clear creative direction.

Latent Hacks is primarily an open call and curated exhibition project, not just a prize competition.

If awards, recognition, or support opportunities are added later, they will be announced clearly.

Exhibition formats are still being developed.

Latent Hacks may include online presentation, public features, digital exhibition formats, partner spaces, school or community contexts, or future physical exhibition opportunities.

Register early interest through the form to receive updates, examples, prompts, submission details, and next steps.