at the start of the year, we wish you all the best!
The Rundgang – Open Days are just around the corner! From January 22nd to 25th, the Academy offers insights into its studios, workshops, and exhibition spaces, as well as a diverse program of events. The opening will take place on Thursday at 4pm in the Aula of the Academy on Schillerplatz. With the Rundgang we celebrate the many outstanding artistic and scientific achievements of the Academy. At the same time, it is a major event attended by thousands of visitors who come to experience the cultural dynamics that characterize the Academy. We are very much looking forward to the Open Days and are proud of everything that happens at the Academy. Many thanks to all students and staff for their commitment!
The global political situation is drastic. It is a key concern of the Rectorate to think about art and science recursively, and in relation to the overall social situation, we want to actively shape the conditions we are working, teaching and learning in. Art universities carry a special responsibility as places of critical, public discourse and free thought. With this in mind, we would like to thank you for your participation and commitment.
We would like to spread some good news:
This year, the Academy was the most successful Austrian university in attracting PEEK projects. Recently, the Academy has once again been very prosperous in raising competitive third-party funding. We congratulate Katja Sterflinger, Wilfried Vetter, and Julien Segarra on their ÖAW Heritage Science projects and Paul-Julien Robert on his FWF PEEK project.
Two big prizes are awarded to artists who have a special connection to the Academy. The Oskar Kokoschka Prize goes to Jakob Lena Knebl and Ashley Hans Scheirl, and the Miriam Cahn Scholarship to our alumna Natalia Gurova. Congratulations!
In addition, the Academy received first place in the BMFWF and OeAD Internationalization Award in the category of measures to promote mobility for underrepresented student groups: Thinking Art Globally – Strengthening Mobility for Underrepresented Groups. In terms of Erasmus funding, the scope of mobility programs, and global partnerships, the Academy is one of the most successful universities in Austria and there have been very positive developments in this area in recent years.
Thanks to new cooperations, we will be able to offer eight generously endowed scholarships each year. Starting in the coming academic year, these stipends can provide students with financial security and enable them to concentrate on their diploma. In addition, further exhibition opportunities for students (including work stays, exhibition, and catalog) will be created outside Vienna. The residency for graduates in Cairohas been expanded to include a two-month residency there with a return visit to Vienna. The residency in Genalguacil will also be offered again this year, and we are currently working with the BMEIA on expanding networking and exhibition opportunities. Current calls, grants, and residency opportunities can be found on our submission system.
The exhibition project in Prague with students from the Academy at the Austrian Cultural Forum and the Academy in Prague will run until the end of the month. The Curator-in-Residency with exhibition will take place biennially in Prague and London.
The campaign Demokratie leben is currently taking place for the second time in collaboration with Gewista. Hundreds of CityLights throughout Vienna display themed works by Oscar Binder, Johannes Gierlinger, Martina Lajczak, Hannah Kaufmann, Anna Spanlang, and Julia Zastava, which address current challenges and perspectives of democratic coexistence.
After intensive and constructive discussions with the Academy's committees and interest groups and after many feedback loops, we have finished a concise version of the Code of Conduct. It provides a good overview of the existing rules and regulations that structure our work. At the same time, it expresses a shared understanding of how we want to interact with each other fair and respectfully.
Starting with February the INTK, the IKR and some research projects are moving to Kelsenstraße in 1030 Vienna. This location is in close proximity to the future Ballonhalle venue which will be a new location of the Academy from 2027 on.
Last but not least we like to announce: On Thursday 5.2.2026 at 6pm the Alexander Kluge's exhibitionAt Night the Backdrops Dream of Unseen Images opens in our Prospekthof. The exhibition, curated by Ingeborg Erhart and in cooperation with Filmmuseum, will celebrate Kluge's 94th birthday in cooperation with Filmmuseum. On Friday 6.2.2026 at 2pm there will be a talk with Alexander Kluge, Ulrike Sprenger, Christian Schulte, Johan Hartle, and Anna Viebrock at Sitzungssaal, Schillerplatz.