Field of Study

In the background you can see brochures painted with a light forest scene, in front of them are 2 white amorphous sculptures on the wooden floor.

A student stands on a table covered with a cloth, on which a sewing machine, a candlestick, golden dishes and various other utensils lie. A female student is standing to the right. In the background you can see the studio room with a screen, a model and PC workstations.

In the workroom of the stage design there is a long table with various working materials, a red paper snake, painted cloths stretched across the room above it and a chandelier.

At the back right, you can see the table on which the model is standing and the cinematic transmission from the model's interior on the screen to the left: a face behind all kinds of greenery and four columns.

Two students stand in front of a screen onto which costumes are projected and which they paint. One of them stands on a chair.

In the background hang brochures painted with a light forest scenery, in front of them seven people obviously moving according to a choreography.

At the back right, you can see the table on which the model is standing and the cinematic transmission from the interior of the model on the screen to the left: many columns and various other components.

A long table stands in a huge room with rows of columns and 6 large windows. Students are working at this and other workstations, work material is lying and standing around everywhere.

The study of Scenography deals with the staging of spaces.

Stage designs are spaces in which imitation and reality merge and, at the same time, they are installations intended to be used. Thus it is only through the active participation of bodies in a space that its texture and effect are completed.They are a form of expression of temporary architecture, places of encounter for spectators and players, where different positions meet.

In the development process of a work for theater, the opera, performances, and other forms of staging, set designers are responsible for the development of a space, and therefore usually for the initial artistic setting in a production. Subsequently, they are also involved in all further processes of development and invention. In institutional terms, this means communicating, cooperating, and, if necessary, differentiating oneself with all personalities in the respective working relationships at a theater or within other artistic and social contexts.

The program offers the space, time, and mentorship to develop individual artistic positions and forms of expression and also to learn to think collaboratively within the complex working relationships in theater and in independent productions. Artistic practice and theoretical content are combined.

The basic techniques taught in the program are research, freehand drawing, design, material science, technical drawing (digital), lighting, model making, costume, make-up design, and dramaturgy, as well as the examination of architecture, art history, politics, sociology, philosophy, music and visual arts. In addition to theater and opera, other manifestations of spaces in media such as film, video, digital art, performance, and art in public space will be explored and worked on.

The focus will be on confronting our present time with the means of art, developing our own working economies and finding our own sources of inspiration or specific knowledge, and transforming them into stage design work. In the process, failure is also an essential component that we constantly have to confront ourselves with.

It is important for the profession of the scenographer to sharpen their optical and spatial awareness, as well as their social and theatrical perception, to see and feel without prejudice, to filter critically, and to make this usable for artistic work.

The study of scenography at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna does not only aim at graduating with a diploma, but would like to create a free space to experiment with a willingness to take risks and an openness to results.
Univ.-Prof. Nina von Mechow

Upcoming Events

8.9.2025

11–15

Industrial XL – Transformations

The three leading architecture schools of Vienna have come together to initiate a public dialogue on how contemporary cities can strategically rethink large-scale industrial sites. The transition from an industrial-era logic to environmentally conscious planning is far from seamless. We are confronted with challenges of unprecedented complexity and must draw on expertise from a wide range of disciplines to develop realistic approaches to XL-scale urban transformation.

Conference

11 – 15

Österreichische Postsparkasse
Georg-Coch-Platz 2
1010 Vienna

Art and Architecture
8.9.2025

16:30–21:30

The Competition of Competitions September School | Closing Event

In 2025, three architecture schools of Vienna formed for a second time a partnership to organise an educational project titled “The Competition of Competitions”. For just a few days, international and Austrian master’s students along with Viennese academics have worked together to create visionary briefs for a design competition. The future of the so-called Opel Werk, a kilometre-long building of the former car factory on the outskirts of Vienna was in the focus of this investigation.
An international committee of professionals was invited to revise all submitted briefs. After a collective discussion the jury will award one winning entry, which will be honoured during the public event on September 8.

Presentation and Discussion

16:30 – 21:30

Österreichische Postsparkasse
Georg-Coch-Platz 2
1010 Vienna

Art and Architecture

Institute for Art and Architecture

Study Program Scenography

Chair

Mag.^a Lisa Schmidt-Colinet
Univ.-Prof. Mag. Hannes Stiefel (Deputy)
Univ.-Prof.ⁱⁿ Dipl.-Ing.ⁱⁿ Dr.ⁱⁿ Ing.ⁱⁿ Angelika Schnell (Deputy)

Faculty management

Univ-Prof.ⁱⁿ Nina von Mechow

Office Scenography

Lehárgasse 8, 3rd floor
1060 Vienna

Astrid Rausch
P +43 (1) 588 16-5401
a.rausch@akbild.ac.at