This Summer Academy has existed since 1953, originally founded by Oskar Kokoschka as the “School of Vision”. It was the first summer art academy on European soil and today trains around 300 course participants annually. Throughout the city, you will encounter artworks by teachers and students of the Summer Academy.
The goal of the Summer Academy has been to create an international place of encounter for people of different heritages, social backgrounds and ages. Oskar Kokoschka promised his students that he would not “train them to become painters, but rather open their eyes for what art is”. Whereas the lessons were originally focused on painting, over time courses were added in fields that included sculpture, graphic art, architecture, fashion, design, performance, set design and photography.
The courses are held either at Hohensalzburg Fortress or at the Kiefer Steinbruch in Fürstenbrunn. Though other temporary course locations are also available. Over 300 artists and students of art as well as interested laypersons from over 40 different countries take part in the Summer Academy every year. Instructors since 1953 have included such renowned names as Oskar Kokoschka, Kiki Kogelnik, Christian Ludwig Attersee, Valie Export, Robert Jungk, Hermann Nitsch, Günther Schneider-Siemsen, Clemens Holzmeister, Günther Domenig, Gustav Peichl and many more.
From July 21 to August 30, 2025, 19 courses will take place at Hohensalzburg Fortress and 1 course at the Untersberg quarry in Fürstenbrunn. The theme ‘Diversity of the future’ is intended to inspire and encourage people to think about different variants of ‘futures’..
At the Open Studios, interested parties can immerse themselves in the extraordinary atmosphere of the various art laboratories with free admission. On offer are also tours, film presentations, performances and talks.
