AAF/Seebacher Fine Arts Prize
Fellows learn from highly respected artists, curators, and art critics at the Salzburg International Summer Academy of Fine Arts.
Cultivating Artistic Excellence
Each year, the AAF/Seebacher Fine Arts Prize provides fellowships to participate in the Salzburg International Summer Academy of Fine Arts in Austria to fine arts graduate students studying at American universities, or those who have completed their graduate studies within the past two years.
Founded in 1953 by Oskar Kokoschka, the Salzburg International Summer Academy of Fine Arts offers a unique working environment at the Hohensalzburg Fortress, situated on a hill overlooking the city. Fellows learn from well-known and highly respected artists, curators, and art critics from around the world and immerse themselves in a European contemporary art scene, quite different from their U.S. academic environment. Fellows reside at Schloss Arenberg for the duration of their studies.
The American Austrian Foundation has administered this program since 2000. It is sponsored through the generosity of former AAF Trustee Gerhard Seebacher and his wife Angelika.
Congratulations to the winners of the
2025 AAF/Seebacher Prize for Fine Arts:
MFA 2025, Tyler School of Art, Temple University
MFA 2025, Columbia University
MFA 2025, Stanford University
Abdul MUSAVIR MIR
MFA 2025, Ohio University
MFA 2025, University of Texas
AAF/Seebacher Fine Arts Prize – Application
Current graduate students from U.S. schools or those who have just completed their graduate studies in the past two years may apply.
Non-US citizens are welcome to apply, as long as they are a student or a recent graduate of an American art program. Please note that if a non-US citizen is selected, the AAF is not responsible for fees associated with acquiring the necessary visa, etc.
Application Requirements & Deadlines
Please submit your complete application no later than FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026. Applications submitted via email must be sent to aafconductors@americanaustrianfoundation.org by 5:00pm EST on FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026.
Please submit any inquiries to finearts.prize@americanaustrianfoundation.org. No phone calls, please.