AR-Pilot: Call for Artistic Research Projects at the mdw

Application deadline: 26 May 2026

Scope of funding and eligibility criteria

In 2026, the mdw is launching its fifth round of internal funding for pilot projects in the field of artistic research.

Funding is available for innovative research projects employing a clearly defined method of artistic research, which serve to prepare an application for third-party funding, particularly within the framework of the FWF’s PEEK programme. Preference will be given to projects that envisage a publication (e.g. in the Research Catalogue) as well as to transdisciplinary and collaborative projects.

All mdw members are eligible to apply, in particular early-career artists and researchers, including PhD and Dr. Artium students.

A total of €20,000 is available. The maximum grant amount per project is €5,000.

Projects must start in 2026 and be completed within one year.

Selection criteria

• Artistic and theoretical quality of the planned research (with a view to applying for external funding);
• Artistic-academic and/or societal relevance;
• Feasibility of the project (within one year).

Eligible costs

All direct costs (staff, material and travel costs, contracts for work, other justified costs) associated with the implementation of the project are eligible.

Requirements regarding cost-effectiveness, proportionality and environmental sustainability must be met. If these requirements are not met, the relevant expenditure items may be excluded from funding in whole or in part, or the funding amount may be reduced accordingly.

Co-financing from own or third-party funds is permitted.

Application

Applications must be submitted from 8 April 2026 to 26 May 2026 via the online form.

Application documents:

• Project description with timetable (max. 3 pages);
• Short biographies and a list of relevant publications, artistic works and other achievements (max. 2 pages);
• Cost calculation in tabular form;
• Declaration of support from the head of department or research centre.

Selection process

The selection of projects to be funded will be carried out by a jury comprising internal and external members, chaired by Associate Professor Johannes Kretz. The funding decision is expected to be announced by the end of June 2026.

Administration and obligations of funding recipients

Within three months of the project’s completion, a final report and a cost statement in tabular form, comparing planned and actual costs, must be submitted. Grant recipients shall, where applicable, store open access publications on the publication platform pub.mdw or publish them in the Research Catalogue. The mdwRepository shall be used for the long-term archiving of project outputs (videos, audio files and other research data).

Once the report has been accepted, costs are reimbursed by the Research Funding Office via an internal settlement. The settlement is processed through the respective institute/research centre or the Artistic Research Centre, which receives reimbursement of the costs from the Research Funding Office after the project has ended.

Applicants are advised to seek advice from the Research Support Office regarding third-party funding applications at an early stage: Vitali Bodnar, Project Services bodnar@mdw.ac.at.

Legal notices

In particular, the Gender Equality Plan, the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers, the Data Protection Regulations, and the Financial Management Guidelines of the mdw apply.

Information on projects funded since 2018 through the AR Pilot Call

Approved Projects 2024:

Stephan Geene (IKM): Performing Plastics Object, Materiality, (negative) Form, and Value 

Ivar Roban Krizic (ARC): Difficulties

Wei-Ya Lin, Ragnheiður Erla Björnsdóttir, Jelizaveta Vovka (ARC): Meeting (of) Sonic Beings. Children as Artistic Researchers

Kerstin Parth, Laura Ettel (Filmakademie): In die Hand nehmen. Emanzipatorische Explorationen der Kameraarbeit

Jagoda Szmytka (ARC): Monodrama on Mobility. Chamber opera for voice and chamber ensemble

Arne Vogelgesang (ARC): Affording bodies

Jury

Ruth Anderwald
Angélica Castelló
Thomas Grill
Therese Kaufmann
Johannes Kretz (Vorsitz)

AR-Pilot 2022

Approved Projects

Ivar Roban Krizic, Christian Grüny (ARC): Performing Reflection

Isabel Frey, Benjy Fox-Rosen (ARC): Challenging the Theater of Memory. Yiddish Song beyond Kitsch and Stereotype

Bernhard Gál (IKE): Sonic Ghosts. Intersubjektives Klanglabor zur Beforschung auditiver Wahrnehmungsphänomene

Brigitte Wilfing, Jorge Sánchez-Chiong (ARC): when we play. Bandbewegungen

Thomas Grill (IKE): Spirits in complexity

Tian Fu (ARC): An Integration of Rap Music and Neue Musik

Jury

Ruth Anderwald
Thomas Grill
Therese Kaufmann
Johannes Kretz (Vorsitz)
Wei-Ya Lin

AR-Pilot 2020

Approved Projects

Adrian Artacho Bueno (IKE): Social d[ist]ancing. Development of a networked artistic practice out of confinement: six case studies

Paul Florian Ebhart (IKE): Performance auf skulpturalen, programmierten Bühnen/Klangkörpern

Michael Hudecek, Christina Zurbrügg (Filmakademie Wien): CLARA. A new Voice for Clara Wieck_Schumann

Barbara Wolfram, Christina Wintersteiger (Filmakademie Wien): (NOT) ENTERING EVERY ROOM. Eine künstlerisch-wissenschaftliche Exploration zu (Klassen)-Scham und -Stolz

Conny Zenk (IKE): RAD PERFORMANCE - Sonic Environment & Klangforschung - eine chorische Bewegung mit mobilen Lautsprechern

Jury:

Susanne-Valerie Granzer
Thomas Grill
Therese Kaufmann
Johannes Kretz (Chair)
Ruth Matheus-Berr

AR-Pilot 2018

Approved Projects

Vasilis Chatziioannou (IWK): Sound Synthesis Using Virtual Acoustic Instrument

Julia Fent (IKM): Emergence Of the Excluded – Post-Sovereign Subjects in Music Therapy

Nina Kusturica, Barbara Wolfram, Christina Wintersteiger, Elena Meilicke, Claudia Walkensteiner-Preschl (Filmakademie Wien): Confronting Realities. Arbeit an filmischen Autosoziobiografien.

Melanie Unseld (Institut für Musikwissenschaften und Interpretationsforschung): Bilderzyklus, Autobiographie oder Musiktheater? Charlotte [sic] Salomons Singespiel „Leben? Oder Theater?“

Johannes Marian (Ludwig van Beethoven Institut für Klavier und Cembalo in der Musikpädagogik): Performing Gestures/Kinaesthetic. Backgrounds In Music And Dance, presented under the title Body(re)Forms - (An)Notations on December 6 2018 at Anton Bruckner Privatuniversität

Doris Ingrisch (IKM): Intra-Viewing. Die Kunst, Gespräche im Inbetween zu führen. Ein Design-Studio. published in the Research Catalogue

Marko Kölbl (IVE): traditional||:performance:|| art. Ethnographische Forschung auf der Bühne

Sebastian Brauneis (Max Reinhardt-Seminar): The Potential Of VR In Theatre Acting

Monika Smetana (Institut für Musiktherapie): Feasibility-Studie. Kunst in der Musiktherapie: Dialog im Fokus, presented at the World Congress for Music Therapy 2020 with a Poster and Presentation

Jury

Susanne-Valerie Granzer
Johannes Kretz (Chair)
Ruth Mattheus-Berr (Universität für angewandte Kunst Wien)
Johannes Meissl

Research Support

Mag.^a Therese Kaufmann, MA

Anton-von-Webern-Platz 1
1030 Wien
1. Stock, Raum B 01 23
Tel. +43 1 711 55-6101

forschungsfoerderung@mdw.ac.at