Akademie der bildenden Künste Wien

Newsletter Art and Research, December 2025

Dear colleagues, 
dear alumni_ae,

We are happy to inform you about calls and competitions in our last newsletter of the year. 

We would like to highlight that the Federal Ministry of Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport (BMWKMS) awards Start-up Grants for the year 2026 in the fields Architecture, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Design, Film, Photography, Music, Media Art, and Music (deadline: 31.1.2026). 

WWTF will launch a new funding opportunity in January 2026. "Resilience in times of crisis" is directed at forward-looking research projects aimed at strengthening societal resilience in times of crisis. This call places social scientists in leading roles, working in close collaboration with other disciplines and practitioners. We will keep you updated about the call at the start of next year. 

For junior researchers interested in applying for EU funding, the FFG is hosting an e-Learning course called "Fit4Funding". It will take place from 20 February to 26 March 2026 and is free of charge (deadline for registration: 20.1.2026). The FWF is also hosting a coaching workshop (in German) on submitting FWF proposals on 21 January 2026. This event has a registration fee (deadline for registration: 7.1.2026). The participation costs can be reimbursed when an application with the Academy as home institution is submitted. For more information events on the different FWF funding programs, you can stay up to date in the FWF event calendar

We already wish you a pleasant holiday season as well as a nice end of the year 2025 and we look forward to many more submissions and successes in the new year. 

With best regards from Art | Research | Support,
Michaela Glanz, Katharina Heinz, Katharina Meissl, Julia Preisker, Sabine Priglinger, Paul Reiter

Direct links

Congratulations


Fine Arts

Paul-Julien Robert | On the Art of Disappearance and the Urge to Preserve

We cordially congratulate Paul-Julien Robert and Elisabeth Schäfer for receiving funding from the FWF for the PEEK project "On the Art of Disappearance and the Urge to Preserve". All the best for the start of the project!

Academy

Ingrid Cogne | Research Catalogue Prize

Cordial contragulations to Ingrid Cogne for receiving the prize of 1,000 euros for the exhibition The dramaturgy of Conversation. The exposition presents an engaging and conceptually sophisticated research project that reimagines conversation as both method and site of knowledge-making. The jury emphasized the exposition’s aesthetic restraint and intellectual depth, and the mature and thoughtful use of Research Catalogue tools, combining clarity of design with an inviting, exploratory interface.

> more

Academy

Ana de Almeida | Research Catalogue Prize

One prize of 500 euros was awarded to Ana de Almeida and her exposition Afterwork: On Political Imagination and the Relation Between Human Labour and Automation through the Exploration of Post-Work Scenarios. The exposition stands out for its inventive and ambitious exploration of labor ideologies through performative and speculative artistic methods. The jury was intrigued by the exposition’s scope that elegantly bridges fiction and documentation as well as the secretive and catching opening to the exposition, which invites viewers into a space where process and outcome intertwine. 

> more

Academy

Zahra Khalid Mirza | Research Catalogue Prize

One prize of 500 euros was awarded to Zahra Khalid Mirza for the exhibition Keythings of Clay: Material Ecologies in Art and Pedagogy. By establishing a strong correspondence between artistic process and digital presentation the exposition compellingly demonstrates the relationship between material, ecology, and pedagogy. The jury emphasized the immersive integration of several media formats and the further potential of the exposition in extending the digital format toward more interactive, hands-on engagements.

> more

 

Projectnews


Art Theory and Cultural Studies

Lesia Smyrna | Publications

Lesia Smyrna is the principal investigator in the Elise Richter project "Discourse of Trauma as a Source for 'Cruel Optimism' in Visual Projects of the Artists in Wartime Ukraine (2013–2023)" funded by the FWF. In November and December, three articles authored by her appeared in the journal "Krytyka": "Maria Kulikovska: Portrait of an Anarchist", "A Journey into the Darkness of Time" and "Beyond Tenderness".

Art Theory and Cultural Studies

Ujjwal Utkarsh and Frida Robles | Exhibition

As part of the FWF PEEK project "Commemorating a Revolution yet to come", an exhibition series revolves around the idea of remembering revolution(s). The project team seeks to explore the unstable relationship between aesthetics, memory, and political movement, asking how one might remember that which has not yet ended. The first exhibition titled "Revolutionary Remembrance" takes place in the small town of Mahad in Maharashtra, India, where Dr. B. R. Ambedkar launched his first satyagraha for a casteless society on 20 March 1927. The exhibition will run 23–27 December 2025 and is curated by Ujjwal Utkarsh and Frida Robles. 

 

Conferences and Events


Sound Arguments 2026: event series hosted by Orpheus Instituut Ghent and University of Leiden

  • 9.2.2026–20.5.2026

Sound Arguments is an innovative laboratory-atelier for creative artists and researchers dealing with sound. Presented by the Orpheus Instituut, Ghent and the Academy of Creative and Performing Arts, University of Leiden, Sound Arguments transcends the boundaries of art school or conservatory, art space or university to propose a new kind of creating-researching-learning community. The event series takes place between 9 February and 20 May 2026. 

Application is required (deadline: 4.1.2026).

 > more

 

Calls


Academy

Open Call of the Academy | Circular Bioengineering and Sustainability in Dialogue

  • Deadline: 15.12.2025

This call is aimed at students of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna who are interested in exploring the intersection between art and science. As part of a collaboration between the Research Cluster Sustainability in the Arts at the Academy and the Exzellenzcluster Circular Bioengineering led by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), students are invited for intercisciplinary exchange. The four selected projects will be supported with a stipend of 2000 euros. 

> more

Academy

Open Call of the Academy | Manual for Occupation

  • Deadline: 15.12.2025

For spring 2026, the team of the project MANUAL FOR OCCUPATION invites students, lecturers, and researchers of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna to develop artistic interventions for the public space on and around Schillerplatz. This is done within a cooperation between the Research Cluster Sustainability in the Arts and the Transformationsgruppe of the Academy as well das the Klima Biennale Wien. 

> more

Living Knowledge Network | Conference LK11

  • Call for Contributions: 15.12.2025

The 11th Living Knowledge Conference, titled "Research and Solidarity" will be hosted 7–10 July 2026 in Gdansk. The conference welcomes welcomes everyone involved in supporting, facilitating, or conducting community-driven, collaborative research.

> more

Journal Memory, Mind & Media | Special Collection After Memory

  • Call for Contributions: 15.12.2025

The Journal Memory, Mind & Media (MMM) invites contributions for a special collection themed "After Memory: Shifting Perceptions of Time and Temporality in the Digital Condition".

> more

Bauhaus University Weimar | XV. International Bauhaus Colloquium

  • Call for Contributions: 15.12.2025

The XV. International Bauhaus Colloquium invites researchers from the humanities, arts, and architecture, from across different discourses and geographies to critically examine the politics that underlie, shape, or result from research. The event takes place 4–7 November 2026 in Weimar and the call for contributions is open.

> more

GALERIE3 | Young talent Award Fine Arts Carinthia 2026

  • Deadline: 19.12.2025

The Young Talent  Award Fine Arts Carinthia honors young aspiring artists who can prove a concrete connection to Carinthia. 

> more

Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History | Citizen Practices in Producing and Preserving the Past

  • Call for Contributions: 20.12.2025

The conference "Citizen Practices in Producing and Preserving the Past" will be hosted by the Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History (C²DH) 11–12 May in Luxembourg. 

> more

Orpheus Instituut Ghent | Orpheus Doctoral Conference 2026

  • Call for Contributions: 21.12.2025

The Orpheus Doctoral Conference (ODC) 2026 will be held 16–17 April in Ghent. The call for contributions for the theme "Sonic Worldings: Crafting realities through artistic research" is open until 21 December. 

> more

mdw – University for Music and Performing Arts Vienna and OeAW | Tenor Vienna 2026

  • Call for Contributions: 8.1.2026

The international conference "Tenor" will be hosted 21–24 May 2026 in Vienna and revolves around technologies for music notation and representation. Researchers, composers, scientists, technologists and performers are invited to submit their work.

> more

Horizon Europe | ERC Consolidator Grant Call 2026

  • Deadline: 13.1.2026, 17 h

The ERC Consolidator Grants are designed to support excellent Principal Investigators at the career stage at which they may still be consolidating their own independent research team or program. Principal Investigators must demonstrate the ground-breaking nature, ambition and feasibility of their scientific proposal.

> more

Eberhard (Eb)-Dietzsch-Kunstfreunde | 9th Eb-Dietzsch Award for painting

  • Deadline: 15.1.2026

The Eb-Dietzsch Award for painting is awarded to artists until the age of 35 years who are at the start of their careers. One work per person can be submitted, the topic is free of choice. All techniques of painting are accepted. 

> more

ArtEZ University of the Arts | ELIA Biennial Conference 2026

  • Call for Contributions: 16.1.2026

The Call for Contributions for the ELIA Biennial Conference 2026 titled "Going off Centre" is open. The conference will take place 18–21 November 2026 in Zwolle, Netherlands and is hosted by the ArtEZ University of the Arts.

> more

BMWKMS | Start-up Grants in the fields Architecture, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, Design, Film, Photography, Music, Media Art, and Music

  • Deadline: 31.1.2026

The start-up grants represent recognition and support for the work of young artists. They are intended to promote artistic development and facilitate entry into the Austrian and international art scene.

> more

BMWKMS | Grants in the field Film

  • Deadline: 31.1.2026

The Federal Ministry for Housing, Art, Culture, Media and Sports (BMWKMS) offers funding in the field of film. Among other, funding is awarded for project development as well as production of avant-garde and experimental films as well as animation, documentary and feature films. 

> more

Society for Artistic Research | Nomination Prize for Excellent Research Catalogue Exposition 2025

  • Deadline: 31.1.2026

The Society for Artistic Research (SAR) has opened a call for nominations of candidates for the Annual SAR Prize for Excellent Research Catalogue Exposition 2025. The prize aims to foster and encourage innovative, experimental new formats of publication and to give visibility to the qualities of artistic research artefacts. 

> more

European Commission | Design competition New European Bauhaus Trophy 2026

  • Deadline: 31.1.2026

The European Commission is launching an EU-wide competition for students to design the first official trophy of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) Prizes. The NEB Prizes celebrate outstanding projects and ideas that embody the NEB values of sustainability, beauty, and inclusion. 

> more

Spotlight Festival for Motion Picture Communication | spotlight STUDENTS

  • Deadline: 31.1.2026

The 29th Festival for Motion Picture Communication will take place 12–13 March 2026 in Stuttgart. Spotlight STUDENTS is a young talent competition for spots and other motion picture formats produced by film students. 

> more

Gustav Mahler Private University for Music Klagenfurt | Forum Artistic Research

  • Call for Contributions: 2.2.2026

The second Forum Artistic Research will be held 25–27 June 2026 in Klagenfurt. The call for contributions on the theme "suspended in language?"  is open until 2 February.

> more

OeAW | L'ORÉAL Austria

  • Deadline: 10.2.2026

The L’ORÉAL Austria Awards offer funding for young female scientists in medicine, natural and life sciences or mathematics to support them at the beginning of their scientific career after their doctorate/PhD.

> more

BMWKMS | Individual Projects Fine Arts, Design, Fashion, Photography, Media Art 2026

  • Deadline: 28.2.2026

The Federal Ministry for Housing, Art, Culture, Media and Sports (BMWKMS) offers funding for individual projects in the fields Fine Arts, Design, Fashion, Photography, and Media Art. 

> more

Literar-Mechana | Fellowship for Artistic Work

  • Deadline: 28.2.2026

Literar-Mechana awards fellowship for authors, playwrights, screenwriters, authors for children's books and books for young adults.

> more

OeAW | APART-GSK 2025

  • Deadline: 30.3.2026

APART-GSK is a funding programme for excellent junior scholars in the humanities and the social and cultural sciences (GSK) in the first post-doc phase of their careers.

> more

OeAW | Post-DocTrack

  • Deadline: 15.5.2026

The OeAW awards fellowships to holders of a doctorate or PhD in the humanities and social and cultural sciences who are pursuing an academic career in order to assist in the transition to the post-doc phase.

> more

OeAW | MAX KADE

  • Deadline: 25.6.2026

This programme of the Max Kade Foundation in New York supports scholars from all research disciplines who wish to visit the USA for research purposes.

> more

City of Vienna | START-Studio

  • Deadline: 31.7.2026

The goal of this programme is to support alumni_ae of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna and the University of Applied Arts Vienna in the fields of Fine Arts and Media Art by awarding studio spaces. 

> more

Literar-Mechana | Project Fellowship for Translators

  • Deadline: 30.9.2026

Each year, Literar-Mechana awards up to two translators with project grants. Translations into German are given priority.

> more

Academy

Open Call of the Academy | Academy Open Access Publishing Fund

  • Submissions accepted continuously

The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna established a central Open Access publishing fund to support its members covering the OA costs for their peer-reviewed OA publications. Doctoral students and early career researchers are especially encouraged to apply.

> more

Academy

Open Call of the Academy | Going Book: Grant for Publication Costs

  • Submissions accepted continuously

The publication cost grant is intended to support the realisation of excellent publications. The prerequisite for funding is that it is a quality-assured (peer-reviewed) publication.

> more

Academy

Open Call of the Academy | FWF Open-Access Block Grant

  • Submissions accepted continuously

The FWF Open Access Block Grant supports open access publication costs for peer-reviewed research articles/contributions arising from FWF projects and published in OA journals, OA books, or on OA publication platforms.

> more

City of Vienna | Individual or Overall Funding in Science

  • Submissions accepted continuously

The culture office of the city of Vienna awards "Einzelförderungen" (individual funding) and "Gesamtförderungen" (overall funding) in Science. Institutions, research projects, symposia, conferences, lectures and event series are elligible. 

> more

Aws | Proof of Concept Grants

  • Submissions accepted continuously

The funding measure supports researchers in systematically reviewing their research results and opening up potential areas of application in order to accelerate the transfer of knowledge and technology from publicly funded research and development.

> more

Journal of Embodied Research | Open Call for Video Articles

  • Call for Contributions permanently open

JER invites the submission of video articles on a rolling basis. These can focus on any topic related to embodied practice, embodied knowledge, or embodied research.

> more

Open Gender Journal | Open Call

  • Call for Contributions permanently open

The editors of the Open Gender Journal are pleased about the submission of  papers from all disciplines with a gender reference / focus.

> more

Humboldt Foundation | Humboldt Research Fellowship for Postdocs and Senior Researchers

  • Submissions accepted continuously

A Humboldt Research Fellowship for international postdoctoral researchers allows to carry out long-term research (624 months) in Germany.

> more

FWF | Book Publications

  • Submissions accepted continuously

This program funds the publication and simultaneous open-access publication of books on research findings.

> more

FWF | Digital Publications

  • Submissions accepted continuously

The Digital Publications program offers researchers funding for digital formats such as apps, wiki-based publications, annotated scientific databases, multi-media web-based publications (e.g., audio, video, animation), etc., to help make these publications more accessible to the public.

> more

FWF | Principal Investigator Projects

  • Submissions accepted continuously

Researchers of any discipline who are working in Austria are eligible for applying to an FWF Principal Investigator Project. The aim is to provide funding for individual research in the area of non-profit oriented scholarly/scientific research.

> more

FWF | Principal Investigator Projects International

  • Submissions continuously accepted

The funding program provides principal investigators and their research groups with the resources they need to work together with international project partners to investigate key research questions over a period of several years.

> more

FWF | Erwin Schrödinger Fellowships including a return phase

  • Submissions accepted continuously

The Erwin Schrödinger Fellowships are intended for young and highly qualified scientists of any discipline and seek to enable young scholars to gain experience abroad during the postdoc-phase.

> more

FWF | ESPRIT

  • Submissions accepted continuously

The ESPRIT Programme (Early Stage Programme: Research, Innovation and Training) is addressed to highly qualified postdocs from all disciplines at the beginning of their academic career who wish to carry out an independent research project at an Austrian research institute.

> more

FWF | PEEK

  • Submissions accepted continuously

The aim of PEEK (Programme for Arts-based Research) is to fund clearly defined research proposals of high artistic and academic quality at an international level in the field of arts-based research.

> more

FWF | Zero Emissions Award

  • Submissions continuously accepted

Researchers from universities and non-university research institutions have had the opportunity to submit climate-relevant research proposals for Austria's largest privately funded research award.

> more
 

Doc-News


Dear doctoral candidates,

we hope you've had a productive and inspiring semester so far.

Before the end of the year, we would like to draw your attention to our upcoming events in January 2026 as well as to ongoing and current funding opportunities.

On January 14, our online event “Final steps: Submission of your PhD thesis and thesis defense / rigorosum” will provide information on all relevant steps required to complete your doctoral studies.

On January 15, the workshop “Exposé Writing in English” with Markus Rheindorf will take place - registration is open until December 15.

The call for the IFK Junior Fellowship is open until January 25, 2026. The Fellowship which supports interdisciplinary dissertation projects in the humanities, social sciences, and/or the arts for a period of one to two academic years, 

Applications for the Marietta Blau-Grant can be submitted until February 1, 2026. This grant offers financial support for six- to twelve-month study periods abroad for doctoral or PhD students of Austrian universities

Below you will find further activities and calls, including additional events and our ongoing funding opportunities for doctoral and PhD candidates (travel cost subsidies, grants for short-term research stays, and the “Learning on the Job” grant).

For any questions regarding your doctoral or PhD studies at the Academy or funding opportunities, please consult our FAQs and/or contact us at doktoratszentrum@akbild.ac.at.

We wish you a successful December and a pleasant end of the year.

Academy

Final steps: Submission of your PhD thesis and thesis defense / Rigorosum

  • Informative meeting: 14.1.2026, 13–15:30 h

How do I submit my dissertation or PhD thesis? What exactly does revocation application mean in AkademieOnline? How does this relate to the planned publication of my dissertation thesis? Why can a plagiarism check before submission be advisable? How and when can I register for my defense or rigorosum?

> more

Exposé Writing in English

  • Workshop: 15.1.2026, 9–16:30 h

The exposé represents the foundation and starting point for the doctoral thesis and is a crucial first step in the overall writing process. This one-day workshop is designed for doctoral and PhD candidates and offers hands-on guidance for writing exposés in English.

> more

Academy

Open Door Event summer semester 2026

  • 25.3.2026, 13–14:30 h

The Center for Doctoral Studies welcomes all doctoral and PhD students to an open door event in the summer semester 2026.

> more

The Power of Presence - Cultivating Confidence and Impact in Presentations

  • Workshop: 16.4.2026, 9:30–17 h

This presentation workshop for doctoral and PhD candidates draws on theatre, performance, and coaching practices and engages participants in guided exercises and reflection to ground oneself, communicate with confidence, and bring clarity and authenticity to one's work.

> more

Academy

OeAW | DOC application writing (2026)

  • Coffee Table Talk: 22.4.2026, 13–15 h

The Center for Doctoral Studies invites all doctoral candidates of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna interested in applying for the OeAW DOC grant to participate in this session, which will address requirements, preparation, proposal writing, and more.

> more

Academy

Graduate Conference 2026

  • Conference: 29.4.2026

We are pleased to invite you to the Graduate Conference 2026 of the Center for Doctoral Studies. On April 29, doctoral and PhD candidates in their final phase will present results of their dissertation projects.

> more

Academy

Open Call of the Academy | Learning-on-the-Job Grant

  • Submissions accepted continuously

The Learning-on-the-Job scholarship offers dissertation supervisors the opportunity to apply for a scholarship for doctoral/PhD candidates.

> more

Academy

Open Call of the Academy | Travel Allowances for doctoral resp. PhD candidates at the Academy

  • Submissions accepted continuously

Regular students of all doctoral and PhD studies at the Academy can apply for travel allowances for participations in international conferences as well as for the presentation of art projects.

> more

Academy

Open Call of the Academy | Short term Grants abroad

  • Submissions accepted continuously

The scholarship for a short-term stay abroad for doctoral/PhD candidates supports stays abroad for e.g. research, field research, archival research, interviews, which are necessary for the dissertation or the PhD project. Stays abroad are funded for a minimum of two to a maximum of eight weeks.

> more

Academy

Open Call of the Academy | Dissertation projects on the Academy's website

  • Submissions accepted continuously

All Doctoral and PhD candidates with an approved dissertation agreement have the possibility to present their projects on our website. To be visible on the Academy website you will have to fill out an application form and upload the required documents.

> more

EU ERASMUS+ | Short-term Stay abroad

  • Submissions accepted continuously

In order to better meet their different learning and training needs EU ERASMUS+ offers doctoral students the opportunity to complete a short-term study visit abroad in Europe.

> more

EU ERASMUS+ | Semester abroad

  • Submissions accepted continuously

Doctoral and PhD candidates of the Academy of Fine Arts have the opportunity to spend a semester abroad at a partner university within the framework of Erasmus+.

> more

ifk | Junior Fellowship

  • Deadline: 25.1.2026

The ifk Junior Fellowships are intended for young Austrian academics doing their dissertations, as well as for non-Austrian doctoral students who are being supervised at an Austrian university. 

> more

OeAD | Marietta Blau-Grant

  • Deadline: 1.2.2026

The Marietta Blau Grant offers financial support for six- to twelve-month study periods abroad for doctoral or PhD students of Austrian universities. It serves to optimise their dissertations. Junior researchers are the main target group.

> more

Literar-Mechana | Dissertation Completion Fellowship

  • Deadline: 31.3.2026

Literar-Mechana awards up to thirty scholarships annually to highly qualified scholars from all disciplines to enable them to complete their dissertation projects.

> more

OeAW | DOC

  • Deadline: 15.9.2026, 14 h

The DOC Fellowship Programme of the Austrian Academy of Sciences offers funding for highly qualified doctoral candidates in all areas of research.

> more

OeAW | Mannagetta-Fellowships

  • Deadline: 20.10.2026, 14 h

Mannagetta-Fellowships support the completion of a doctoral thesis and are financed from the funds of the Johann Wilhelm Ritter von Manngetta Foundation at the OeAW.

> more
 

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