Bank Austria Studios

Bank Austria has a long tradition of supporting art and culture. Since the very beginning, we have placed a particular emphasis on young artists because we regard such support as a sustainable investment in the future of a society.

This is precisely where Bank Austria Studios play a role: By offering a comprehensive programme of support to young artists as they take their first steps on the path towards their artistic future, they aim to make that path a little smoother.

The period immediately after leaving university is very challenging for many artists. Finding affordable workspace in particular can be extremely difficult. Helping to solve this problem is just one of the ways in which Bank Austria Studios demonstrate their engagement. The programme supports and accompanies young artists on many levels after they have completed their academic training:

1.    Financing of workspaces
2.    Establishment of a sustainable national and international network in the artistic and cultural fields
3.    Practice-oriented support from experts outside the university sector
4.    Financial training from Bank Austria

Bank Austria Studios have international aspirations. This is why not only Austrian but also international graduates of Austrian art academies are invited to apply.

Members of the jury

•    Bettina M. Busse, Curator, Bank Austria Kunstforum Vienna
•    Lilli Hollein, General Director & Artistic Director, MAK
•    Hedwig Kainberger, Cultural Editor, Salzburger Nachrichten
•    Hemma Schmutz, Artistic Director, Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz and Stadtmuseum Nordico
•    Christoph Thun-Hohenstein, Head of the Vienna Biennale for Change

Elements of the support programme

•    The use of studios between February 2022 and February 2024. During this period, a total of five studios in the Vienna and Linz areas will be made available to artists and artists’ collectives, rent-free. The programme participants will be responsible for meeting such ongoing expenses as gas, electricity and insurance costs.
•    A range of practice-related workshops
•    The opportunity to participate in financial training courses offered by Bank Austria


Requirements for applicants

•    Austrian residency
•    A diploma in an area of the visual arts from an Austrian art academy
•    Artists may apply either during their diploma year (although they must receive their diploma before moving into the studio) or within 12 months of the diploma being awarded.
•    The programme has no age limit.


Selection criteria

•    Artistic quality of the application
•    Artistic curriculum vitae
•    Motivational letter (maximum 1 page of A4, font size 12)


Application procedure

•    Application in digital form by e-mail to studios@bak-magazin.at
•    Verification that the application meets all formal criteria
•    Forwarding of the applications to the five-person expert jury
•    Each member of the jury nominates a personal shortlist, from which the final participants for the Bank Austria Studios will be chosen during a jury meeting.
•    The Bank Austria Studios programme reserves the right to subdivide studios.
•    Appeals against the final selection are not permitted. The judges’ decision is final.


Application documents

Applications can only be made in digital form.

Organisational documents

•    Diploma certificate from a course in the visual arts
•    Certificate of residency
•    Curriculum vitae
•    Please indicate whether you want to apply for a studio in Linz or Vienna.

Substantive documents

•    Portfolio with a maximum of five works (max. 10 MB)
•    Motivational letter of maximum one page DIN A4, font size 12

Please send the documents in digital form only and save them as five separate PDF-files as follows:

•    Diploma certificate
•    Certificate of residency
•    Curriculum vitae
•    Portfolio
•    Motivational letter

Submission deadline: 30. 11. 2021


Timetable

•    Week 2/2022: Jury meeting
•    Week 2/2022: Notification of the artists
•    Week 7–9/2022: Occupation of the studios


Contact & questions

The Bank Austria Studios programme would be delighted to answer any questions. Please send these to the following address: studios@bak-magazin.at
Further information: www.bak-magazin.at/studios


Conditions of participation

1.    Participants must be resident in Austria

2.    Participants must hold the copyright to the work in line with § 10, Para 1 of the Copyright Law. Participants must also guarantee that they are the copyright holders for or are authorised to dispose of the documents that they have sent, and that they indemnify UniCredit Bank Austria AG from and against any claim from third parties.

3.    UniCredit Bank Austria AG holds out the prospect of publishing – in whole or in part – the participating cultural projects and of inviting participants to deliver a lecture on the subject of their project.

4.    By deciding to be supported by Bank Austria, participants agree to the publication and passing on of all documents (especially the texts, photos, videos and graphic elements contained therein) by UniCredit Bank Austria AG.

5.    By taking part in the selection process, participants accept that the judges’ decision is final.