PhD-in-Practice for the study year
2025/2026
Application period: February 1–28, 2025
Beginning of studies: October 1, 2025
The online application form will be available during the call at
https://calls.akbild.ac.at/calls/PhD25/
Call for applications PhD in Practice Program
The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna invites applications to its doctoral
program for research in artistic practice. The PhD in Practice program
provides participants with the opportunity to pursue their individual
arts-based research projects in a collective learning environment with
a decidedly transdisciplinary and international bent. The program is
coordinated by Renate Lorenz (Professor for Art and Research) and
Anette Baldauf (Professor for Methodology and Epistemology). The
invited lecturers and guests include Saidiya Hartman, Okwui
Okpokwasili, Tina Campt, Eve Tuck, Otobong Nkanga, Fred Moten,
Stefano Harney, Sharon Hayes, Nikita Dhawan, Keguro Macharia, Park
McArthur and Kapwani Kiwanga.
Program
The PhD in Practice program is built on a concept of arts-based
research that relates to critical epistemologies, as they have been
developed in the context of feminist, queer, postcolonial, ecological,
postmarxist and other political and emancipatory projects. Inspired by
these struggles, the program approaches arts-based research as a
space for the negotiation of social, political, cultural and economic
conflicts. It refers to a history of research in the arts that has been
developed in dialog with an array of different fields, including
academia, activism, high art as much as pop and subculture. It thus
privileges cultural/artistic productions that are concerned with a
critique of injustice, social hierarchies and exclusions, and is
interested in the development of heterotopic visions as well as activist
interventions.
The program is designed for a duration of four years. During this time
the participants will develop their projects artistically, theoretically, and
analytically in coordination with the academic and artistic team of co-
participants and faculty. Participants conceive, organize, document,
and carry out independent and/or collaborative arts-based research in
a PhD supervision environment that is dedicated to transdisciplinary
and international exchange.
Course work is mandatory during the first two years: so-called focus
weeks take place one week per month during the academic calendar
(October to January, March to June). During these weeks the
participants and the PhD in Practice team meet for seminars, lectures,
excursions and other research and study events. Participants are
expected to take an active part in organizing the program, including
the conceptualization and organization of workshops, guest lectures,
exhibitions, etc.
Available positions
Three PhD positions are available with a 75 percent
employment contract with a duration of four years
(payment according to B1, Section 49 Abs. 3KV,
currently 2.684,10 EUR/month before tax, incl. health
benefits). These positions fund the candidates in
their completion of the PhD project; they require
residency in Vienna and contributions to the
administration, teaching and self-organisation of the
PhD-in-Practice program.
Additionally, two PhD positions are available without funding or
employment through the Academy (student-only, low residency
scheme, does not require moving to Vienna).
Entry requirements
A degree (Magister, MA or Diplom) from a recognized
university/academy, and submission of the required application
material. Applicants with an ongoing artistic career are encouraged to
apply.
Application
The application is online only. Please submit all material in English!
Applications must be uploaded within the call dates: February 1–28,
2025.
The application must contain:
• the completed web application form
• a curriculum vitae (including a list of exhibitions the applicant has
contributed to and of publications or other artistic and scholarly
work that has been published; pdf)
• a project proposal (ten pages max; one and a half line spacing;
pdf)
• an abstract of the project proposal (one page max, one and a
halfline spacing; pdf)
• a digital portfolio (a single pdf document, less than five MB)
• a scan of the certificate(s) proving that you received a degree
(Magister, MA or Diplom) from a recognized/accredited
university/academy
• Diploma Supplement (if available) and Transcripts (mandatory)
of highest academic degree completed (including length of
program and credits/ECTS)
The online application form will be available from February 1–28,
2025 here.
Admission process
The admission jury will review all applications and choose those
applicants to be invited for an interview. On May 2nd and 5th, 2025
the jury will conduct interviews with the selected applicants. Results
will be made public shortly after.
Contact: phd-in-practice@akbild.ac.at.
