Bank Austria and the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna launch a partnership to strengthen Vienna as a centre for the arts
- A new major cooperation by UniCredit Bank Austria to support young artistic talent and promote art in public spaces
UniCredit Bank Austria and the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna are launching a long-term initiative to sustainably promote Vienna as an art hub with the project “The Sum of the Individual Parts”. The cooperation combines targeted scholarships for students, art in public spaces and international art discourse. Following the Bank Austria Park, curated by André Heller, and the collaboration with the Wiener Symphoniker, this new partnership is a further key cornerstone in the expansion of UniCredit Bank Austria’s arts and culture sponsorship.
“As announced last year, we are thereby expanding our partnerships to promote art and culture. At the heart of the partnership lies the promotion of young artistic talent and the strengthening of art in public spaces, which is accessible to the public free of charge. We are delighted to be able to integrate a sculpture, which will be created as part of a competition for graduates of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna within the framework of this collaboration, into Bank Austria Park. In doing so, we are making high-quality art accessible to the public, fostering dialogue and stimulating debate,” says Ivan Vlaho, CEO of UniCredit Bank Austria.
“With this partnership, we are sending a strong signal in support of equal opportunities and the sustainable promotion of our emerging artists. Thanks to the generous support of UniCredit Bank Austria, the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna can provide important impetus for the consolidation and further development of Vienna as an arts hub. This is by no means a given, particularly in times of tight cultural budgets,” says Johan Hartle, Rector of the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna.
The collaboration comprises three closely interlinked sub-projects:
“Die Summe” – funding grants for students
UniCredit Bank Austria is funding eight scholarships for the 2026/27 academic year. These are aimed at socially disadvantaged students in the final phase of their diploma or master’s degree. The aim is to provide financial relief, enable students to focus on their final projects and facilitate the transition to a freelance artistic career.
“The Parts” – Art in Public Spaces
Graduates of the Academy have the opportunity to create a sculpture as part of a call for entries. Following its presentation in the city centre near the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, the work will be relocated to Bank Austria Park on Mühlschüttel. The project not only raises the profile of young artists but also transforms the urban space into a publicly accessible exhibition venue. An accompanying booklet documents the artistic work.
“The sum of the individual parts” – International art discourse
A discussion format featuring international experts focuses on the conditions required for a sustainable art hub. The aim is to further establish Vienna as an open, contemporary and internationally connected art hub.
The project title “The sum of its parts” symbolises the central idea of the initiative: an art hub realises its full potential when various measures interact synergistically – and more can emerge than the mere sum of individual contributions.
About the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna is one of the most renowned art universities in the world. It is firmly rooted in the regional and international cultural landscape as well as in urban society and looks back on a history spanning over 330 years. In addition to the various institutes with their artistic and academic specialisations, the outstanding art collections also contribute to its international reputation.
About UniCredit Bank Austria
UniCredit Bank Austria is one of the leading and best-capitalised major banks in Austria and part of UniCredit. It is one of the most important private sponsors of art and culture in Austria. In addition to the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, UniCredit Bank Austria supports, among others, the Albertina, Albertina Modern and Albertina Klosterneuburg, the Vienna Climate Biennale, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra Academy and the Bank Austria Park am Mühlschüttel. Through the Bank Austria Salon in the Old Town Hall, it provides young artists with an important venue and sponsors numerous major festivals in Vienna.
Enquiries:
UniCredit Bank Austria Media Relations
Matthias Raftl, Tel.: +43 (0) 5 05 05-52809;
E-Mail: matthias.raftl@unicreditgroup.at