Diözesankunstverein Linz - Support Art award

Support Art award

You will receive a one-off prize of 2,000 EUR and the opportunity to present your work in a public exhibition. This is a one-off award for a single work, not a monthly grant. The prize is awarded by the Diözesankunstverein Linz, an art association of the Diocese of Linz. Since 1996, it has been honouring graduates of the University of Art and Design Linz every year for a diploma or master’s thesis of high artistic quality on a religious, ethical or social theme.

Who can apply

• Your degree: You have obtained a diploma or a Master’s degree from the University of Art and Design Linz.
• Field of study: There are two separate prizes, each worth 2,000 euros: one for the visual arts and one for architecture.
• Subject of the work: Your dissertation clearly deals with a religious, ethical or social topic.
• Timing (architecture only): You can submit theses completed in the academic years 2024/25 or 2025/26.
• Nationality: Applicants of all nationalities are welcome to apply. The key requirement is that you have obtained a degree from the University of Art and Design Linz.

How to apply

Submit your work online via the university’s call for entries platform (calls.kunstuni-linz.at). Please use the relevant link for Fine Art or Architecture. The awards ceremony will take place as part of the graduation ceremony, which is scheduled for Friday, 26 June 2026.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is very specific: only graduates from a particular university are eligible, and the final dissertation must deal with a religious, ethical or social topic, meaning that very few dissertations meet the criteria. If your project genuinely addresses this focus and is of a high artistic standard, your chances are good. As only one prize is awarded per subject area each year, a thesis that clearly fits the theme and is well-reasoned takes precedence over one that is merely polished.