Artists-in-Residence Programme for incoming artists
- promotion of cross-border cultural exchange and cooperation
- contribution to the internationalisation of the Austrian art and culture scenes
Each year, the Arts and Culture Division of the Austrian Federal Chancellery, in cooperation with the private association KulturKontakt Austria (KKA) offers 51 scholarships to international artists for residences in Austria. Since this programme’s reorganisation in 2013 (which amalgamated the previous separate programmes of KKA and the Austrian Federal Chancellery) the AIR programme has been open to artists from all over the world working in any of the following disciplines: visual arts, art photography, video and media art, arts and science, composition, literature, literature for children and young people, literary translation, and arts and cultural education. Lengths of stay vary between one and three months, according to the artistic discipline. Artists in residence are provided with accommodations, a working space/community studio, contributions to the costs of living expenses of EUR 800,- a month, a contribution for art supplies, accident and health insurance, and support for other necessary expenses (mobile internet access, cell phone, passes for public transport, etc.).
An important aspect is that this residency is accompanied by mentoring and networking activities. The objective is to familiarize the artists in residence with the Austrian art scene and cultural environment and to make contact with Austrian artists. To this end, the programme includes visits to galleries, studios and museums, contacts to the literature and publishing sector, and access to the musical life of Vienna or Salzburg. Whenever possible, the residents receive free tickets to art and book fairs, to performances at the Tanzquartier Wien, to the international ImPulsTanz dance festival, and to other events. It is also possible for artists to participate actively in the “Artists in Residence Go to School”-Programme of KKA (this includes workshops at Austrian schools). Furthermore, a presentation of works may be arranged towards the end of the residency.
Additionally, KKA maintains a publicly accessible database on all artists who have participated in the programme.
- 51 international artist residencies annually, enabling the participants to work in the Austrian environment, engage in an exchange of experience, and find new sources of inspiration
- promotion of networking between the international scholarship winners and the Austrian arts scene
- raising interest within Austria in the cultural and intellectual lives of other countries and stimulating discussion and exchange
Funding: EUR 500,000 per year