Artists' Assistance

Artists' Assistance offers continuous nationwide support in Austria in the form of a grant for Austrian artists from various disciplines who find themselves in acute financial distress. The aim of this initiative is the rapid provision of social benefits to ensure the continuation of artistic activity even in times of crisis. The funding is granted unbureaucratically and continuously, allowing applicants to request support at any time. The contribution not only bridges short-term bottlenecks but also creates stable conditions for contemporary art and strengthens its sustainable anchoring in society.

Eligible for funding are private individuals with Austrian citizenship or permanent residence in Austria who submit an application to the Federal Chancellery in accordance with § 4 of the Art Promotion Act. A personal contribution corresponding to the economic capacity is required to determine the amount of funding and to financially secure the project jointly with federal funds. The submission of comprehensible documents and proof of the current emergency form the basis for the decision. Since there are no application deadlines, the program enables ongoing applications and thus responds flexibly to individual emergencies. Administration is carried out by the Arts and Culture Section of the responsible Federal Ministry, which applies detailed allocation criteria from the Art Promotion Act. This way, artists from various genres benefit directly from tailored support when their artistic livelihood is acutely endangered.