Mentoring Program Art 2023/24

The Mentoring Program Art of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna aims to support graduates of the Academy with independent artistic practice in developing a professional artistic career. Set at the intersection between studies and freelance artistic work, the one-year scholarship program is open to graduates from all disciplines of the Academy who wish to receive guidance through mentoring for the initial phase after their studies. This individual transfer of knowledge and experience by external mentors from the arts and cultural sector is the central aspect of the program, in addition to financial support.

The program serves to promote emerging artists at the Academy and ensure equal gender participation in the art field. It offers graduates the opportunity to gain diverse insights into the art industry and practical knowledge for developing a professional artistic career.

The program's cooperation partner is the Association of Austrian Women Artists (VBKÖ) and the Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, Public Service and Sport (BMKÖS).

Members of the advisory board

• Ingeborg Erhart, Vice Rector for Art I Teaching, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
• Julian Goethe, Institute for Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (until 7/2023)
• Luisa Kasalicky, Institute for Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (from 7/2023)
• Gerhard Jagersberger, Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Public Service and Sports (BMKÖS)
• Bettina Leidl, Managing Director MuseumsQuartier Vienna
• Dorit Margreiter, Institute for Fine Arts, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
• Stephanie Misa, artist Vienna
• Olga Okunev, Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Public Service and Sport (BMKÖS)
• Denise Palmieri, Association of Austrian Women Artists (VBKÖ)
• Barbara Pflanzner, Program Manager Mentoring Program, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna

Scholarship benefits

• Scholarship amounting to a flat rate of € 9,000 per person, paid quarterly. (Any travel expenses or other program-related expenses incurred during the program year are not separately covered and must be paid from the scholarship).
• Individual guidance by a mentor throughout the program year (typically involving 3-5 meetings with the mentor during the program year).
• Offering of an input workshop for mentees: This workshop serves to define the roles of the program participants and provides guidance on establishing the tandem relationship throughout the program year.
• Offering of three further training workshops. The content of the workshops will be discussed with the scholarship recipients at the beginning of the program year.
• Ongoing exchange of experiences among the scholarship recipients (peer group meetings) as well as networking events with individuals involved in the program (mentees, mentors).
• Final publication featuring texts by the authors about each scholarship recipient

Mentors 2023/24

1. Ricarda Denzer, Artist
2. Marianne Dobner, Curator mumok
3. Eva Fischer, Curator sound:frame
4. Angelika Fitz, Director Architecture Center Vienna
5. Philipp Fleischmann, Director School Friedl Kubelka for Independend Film
6. Aldo Giannotti, Artist
7. Alexandra Grausam, Curator das weisse haus
8. Siggi Hofer, Artist
9. Felix Hoffmann, artistic Director Photomuseum Arsenal / Photo Vienna
10. Ingrid Holzschuh, Art- and Architectural historian
11. Renan Laru-an, artistic Director Savvy Contemporary Berlin
12. Carolina Nöbauer, Curator Tanzquartier Vienna
13. Jeanette Pacher, Curator Secession
14. Astrid Peterle, Head of Curatorial and Programming, Kunsthalle Vienna
15. Lisl Ponger, Artist
16. Karolina Radenković: Curator Galerie 5020 Salzburg
17. Gudrun Ratzinger, Curator, author + Co- Director Kunstraum Lakeside
18. Rebekka Reuter, Curator
19. Roswitha Schuller, Artist
20. Oleg Soulimenko, Artist
21. Angela Stief, Director Albertina Modern
22. Sofie Thorsen, Artist

Application requirements

• Completion of studies (diploma/master's degree) at the academy between June 2021 and June 2023.
• Completed application form (available at https://calls.akbild.ac.at/calls).
• Curriculum vitae (CV) detailing education and providing an overview of the artistic career thus far (individual and group exhibitions, scholarships, and awards).
• Portfolio consisting of 5 selected works from the artist's career.
• Proof of residence registration.
• Individuals who have already been selected to participate in the Academy Studio Program 2023-24 are excluded from participating in the Mentoring Program 2023-24. 

Selection criteria

• Quality of the submitted application
• Academic success
• Artistic résumé, previous exhibitions, etc.
• The motivation of the participants must correspond to the goals of the Mentoring Program Art

Schedule

• until September 5, 2023: Application to the Vice-Rectorate for Art and Teaching via the Academy's submission tool at https://calls.akbild.ac.at/calls
• Mid-September 2023: Submission of applications for evaluation to the respective department heads of the completed studies NOTE: a maximum of two graduates per department can participate in the program.
• Mid-October 2023: Recommendations from the department heads are available
• Early November 2023: Selection and awarding of scholarships by the advisory board, as well as assignment of mentor-mentee tandems, taking into account the priorities stated in the application. The advisory board reserves the right to assign tandems differently than indicated in the application.
• November 2023: Start of the Mentoring Program Art 2023/24
• January 10, 2024, 9-12 am: Input workshop with Dr. Martina Friedl for mentees and. Please keep this date free!
• February 2, 2024, 2-4 pm: Kick-off event with all participants (scholarship recipients, mentors, advisory board); Please keep this date free!
• May/June 2024: Work meetings with all participants in the program
• November 2024: Concluding meeting for all participants in the program
• December 2024: Feedback regarding the program from participants, mentors, Vice-Rectorate for Art and Teaching

Submission

Please save your portfolio and curriculum vitae in a PDF file (German or English, max. 25 pages with 10 MB with last name_First name_Portfolio_MPK20 / 21) Please save the registration slip and diploma notification in another PDF file (max. 5 MB with last name_First name_Meldezettel_ MPK23/24). Please upload both files in the fields provided via the submission tool of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna (https://calls.akbild.ac.at/calls) under Mentoring Program Art 

For further information please contact Barbara Pflanzner (b.pflanzner@akbild.ac.at, +43 1 588 16-1204)