Focus International – Open Call
Deadline for applications: 18 November 2024
FOCUS INTERNATIONAL
FOCUS INTERNATIONAL is a new program of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport (BMKOES).
With FOCUS INTERNATIONAL, the BMKÖS focuses on a specific cooperation country in terms of content and cultural policy for a period of three years.
With this program, the BMKÖS promotes international artistic and cultural exchange – in both directions: It supports Austrian artists and art projects in the cooperation country, but is also committed to Austria’s internationality when it comes to bringing artists and cultural workers to Austria within the framework of the program.
At the heart of FOCUS INTERNATIONAL is the Trainee Program for Cultural Workers, which offers young experts from the cultural field the opportunity to complete a two-month internship at one of Austria’s leading cultural institutions.
The FOCUS INTERNATIONAL Trainee Program is organized in the form of an open call, which is published every autumn. Fellows are selected by a jury of experts.
In addition, FOCUS INTERNATIONAL is involved in connecting Austrian cultural institutions with potential partner institutions in the respective priority country. Furthermore, FOCUS INTERNATIONAL supports at least one specific bilateral art project that is presented in the priority country and in Austria.
In principle, the countries selected for the FOCUS INTERNATIONAL program are primarily those with which bilateral cultural agreements exist or will be concluded in the near future. In this context, the present program sees itself as an instrument to bring these agreements to life.
Calls for application
Kosovo is one of the most intriguing potential candidate countries of the European Union and a country with a very dynamic art scene. The Cultural Trainee Program for Cultural Managers Austria-Kosovo, which started at the beginning of 2023, was the pilot project and starting point for the entire program.
Since then, more than 12 promising young cultural managers from Kosovo had the opportunity to work for two months at some of the most interesting Austrian cultural institutions. Several trainees are still in contact with their former host institutions and implement the experiences they gained back in their home country.
The Republic of Kosovo was an obvious starting point for the project, precisely because we think of culture in an international, especially European context. European solidarity and initiative should not only be left to the new partner countries, but can also come from Austria.
Open Call FOCUS INTERNATIONAL Kosovo 2025
Downloads:
Europe’s place in the world, but also the big questions about the future of the planet, whether it is about democratic coexistence or overcoming the climate crisis, these elementary questions can only be solved in relation to and with the African continent. Also in purely artistic and cultural terms, Africa is an inexhaustible source of talent and inspiration. At the same time it is a region of the world with which there are still far too few horizontal relationships. This is exactly where FOCUS INTERNATIONAL South Africa wants to get involved. Over a period of three years, young South African cultural workers will be invited through an open call to each spend two months in Austria to gain work experience in leading Austrian cultural institutions. The aim is to establish personal and professional contacts.
It is intended to be a journey of artistic discovery in Austria and South Africa, from which new cultural relationships and concrete projects will emerge.
Open Call FOCUS INTERNATIONAL South Africa 2025
Downloads:
Advice
More information can be found at the website Focus International.
Contact:
Federal Ministry for Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport
Directorate of Arts and Culture
Department for European and International Cultural Policy
Head of Section International Cultural Policy
Ms. Karin ZIMMER
Concordiaplatz 2, 1010 Vienna
Phone: +43 1 71 606-851113
E-Mail: karin.zimmer@bmkoes.gv.at