Cultural Awards of the State of Lower Austria

Since 1960, the Cultural Awards of the State of Lower Austria have annually honored outstanding artistic and cultural achievements across diverse fields. In each category, a Recognition Award for significant overall works as well as an Appreciation Award for already professionally recognized projects are presented. The range extends from visual arts, literature, architecture, and folk culture to media art and music, as well as initiatives in adult education. Through this sponsor-based funding instrument, artists and cultural creators with verifiable ties to Lower Austria are to be acknowledged and supported. The recognition simultaneously emphasizes the importance of their work for the cultural identity and social cohesion of the region.

Private individuals residing, based, trained, or conducting projects in Lower Austria may submit applications continuously. The prerequisite is the call for applications in accordance with the guidelines of the Lower Austrian Cultural Funding Act of 1996, whereby, in addition to the artistic overall work, professional quality and previous recognition serve as evaluation criteria. Submissions are accepted without deadline restrictions, allowing for flexible responses to ongoing projects. A professionally qualified panel evaluates the applications, and the prize endowments are determined annually. This continuous funding opportunity provides artists and cultural creators in Lower Austria with a consistent platform for presenting and further developing their work.