FOCUS INTERNATIONAL South Africa 2026
 

TIME SLOT: January/February 2026
Tricky Women/TrickyRealities

TRICKY WOMEN/TRICKY REALITIES focuses on animated films made by women and/or genderqueer artists and therefore fills a unique position within the international festival landscape. Since 2001 TRICKY WOMEN/TRICKY REALITIES takes place every year in March in Vienna around the date of the International Women’s Day.
Besides the competition the festival shows themed programs and retrospectives to present an exciting overview of the animated cinematic art of female/genderqueer artists from around the world and Austrian filmmakers as well. Historical curiosities and contemporary productions are part of TRICKY WOMEN/TRICKY REALITIES’ programming.
From gender equality to digitalization, from human rights to the working world to social, economic and ecological questions – for twenty-four years, Tricky Women/Tricky Realities has been exploring social and political issues from a feminist and artistic perspective and offering new ways of highlighting social inequalities.

Interest/experience in the field of animated films and cinema, interest in/engagement with topics such as diversity and intersectional feminist discourses, as well as the intersections of art and socio-political topics. Interest in queer and/or BPoC perspectives is welcome. The office is located in the MuseumsQuartier.

TIME SLOT: March/April 2026
WIENWOCHE

WIENWOCHE is a Viennese festival that experiments with merging creative practices and activism in different scales and formats and from different sides of art and social movements. Since its beginning in 2012, WIENWOCHE has taken place in September every year. WIENWOCHE sees cultural work as engagement in social, political and cultural debates, with the aim of advancing them and making them visible. WIENWOCHE intends to push the boundaries of cultural and artistic practices and make them accessible for all social groups living in Vienna. We welcome applicants that are interested in PR and project communication/curatorial assistance.

Your tasks:

• Open Call Project Coordination and Archiving
• Kick-off meeting organization and correspondence
• Support for external exhibition collaboration
• social media support
• supporting the press section
• Website support

Fluent English required

TIME SLOT: May/June 2026
FOTO ARSENAL WIEN

FOTO ARSENAL WIEN is a newly opened (March 2025) exhibition center in Vienna dedicated to photography and lens-based media, showcasing national and international artists through temporary exhibitions and an educational program. Located in the Arsenal district, it is funded by the City of Vienna and serves as a cultural hub for exploring both historical and contemporary aspects of photography. In cooperation with the Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport, Foto Arsenal is looking for a Fellow from the beginning of May until the end of June 2025 to support the exhibition office in the area of communication, production and curatorial research.
FOTO ARSENAL WIEN is looking for a person to join the team to support in various aspects such as project communication, curatorial assistance, and production support for events and exhibitions as part of the upcoming Vienna Digital Cultures Festival (opening May 21.) Vienna Digital Cultures is a new festival for art, performance and discourse, dedicated to exploring the cultural impact of digital technologies. Jointly organised by Foto Arsenal Wien and Kunsthalle Wien, the festival brings together international artists, experts and communities to critically reflect on the present moment shaped by digital transformation.

Your responsibilities may include:

• Supporting the Production Department in the planning and realization of exhibition projects, with a special focus on the festival’s main exhibition.
• Assisting in the coordination of the festival opening and the program during the opening days, which includes panel discussions, performances, concerts, and talks by international and national artists and speakers.
• Artist communication and care, including liaising with participating artists before and during the festival.
• Supporting the Communications team in both online and offline outreach activities, such as social media, newsletters, and print materials.
• Helping to maintain and update the festival website, especially in the lead-up to the event.
• Curatorial assistance in the preparation and organization of the exhibition program

Your profile:

• You have an academic degree in curatorial studies, cultural studies, art history, or another field in the humanities, or have equivalent practical experience
• You possess deep knowledge of current discourses in contemporary photography and extensive familiarity with the international arts scene
• You are sensitive to diversity, inclusion, and anti-discrimination concerns
• You have outstanding communication skills, confidence, and are able to think and work in a team in English. German language skills are a plus, but not necessary, as some internal meetings will be held in German
• You are proficient in the use of MS Office

Foto Arsenal strives for a diverse and socially representative team structure. We accordingly encourage individuals regardless of cultural or social background, religious belief, worldview, disability status, or sexual identity to apply.

TIME SLOT: July/August 2026
ImPulsTanz – Vienna International Dance Festival

Founded in 1984 by Ismael Ivo and Karl Regensburger, ImPulsTanz has become one of the world's largest festivals for contemporary dance and performance. Every summer it presents a unique density of more than 50 productions, 220 workshops and research projects, a daily music program as well as films, music videos, installations and book presentations to more than 150,000 visitors. In addition, it hosts various education and training programs for dance students and young artists with rotating mentors and coaches.

Additional requirements:

• Experience in festival work and planning as well as interest and/or knowledge in the field of contemporary dance are highly recommended.

The grant holder will work in the workshops and research department.
As an assistant to the artistic director of the department, the grant holder will take care of e-mail communication and the online archive of our workshop teachers. Through direct communication with our workshop teachers, the grant holder will help with travel planning for the festival period. By accompanying the artistic director of the workshops and research department to internal and external meetings, the grant holder will also actively participate in the planning of the Workshop Festival 2026.

TIME SLOT: September/October 2026
ArtSocialSpace Brunnenpassage 

Since its opening in 2007, ArtSocialSpace Brunnenpassage operates as a laboratory and venue for transcultural and participatory art. Brunnenpassage aims to provide access to contemporary art for all communities and to encourage active participation in the arts. It is strategically located in Vienna's 16th district, at the Brunnenmarkt, a market area characterized by a high percentage of socially disadvantaged residents and people with migration experience. More than 400 events take place annually, ranging from performance and dance to music formats, exhibitions and film. The overall concept is specifically designed to promote artistic practice and production that allows for complex and multiple perspectives and thus does justice to the social plurality of society. Participatory productions emerge from the daily relationship with the environment in co-creation with local communities and professional artists, often in collaboration with established arts and cultural institutions.

In 2023, Brunnenpassage launched the four-year Creative Europe Project Cultural Transformation Movement CTM.
Together with four partner centers - Trans Europe Halles (Sweden), Kunstencentrum Vier Nul Vier (Belgium), Izolyatsia (Ukraine) and Zo Associazione Culturale (Italy) Brunnenpassage is joining forces to bring about changes towards more diversity and social justice in the local and European cultural sector and, above all, to strengthen marginalized positions in artistic decision-making and production processes. CTM aims to diversify artistic production starting from within the organizational structures.

We welcome applicants that are interested in community-based artistic practices and discrimination-critical cultural work.
The offered internship is at the interface of production and co-curatorial work in the frame of the regular program of Brunnenpassage with special focus on CTM project activities. We offer experience in working in a diverse team. You will gain experience in planning, co-curating and producing events ranging from workshops, lectures, film screening, concerts, performances, installations etc., centering underrepresented perspectives in the arts.

Tasks will be:

• Working with the curatorial team of Brunnenpassage (outside-eye input and reflection, proposing and following through with formats)
• Participating in weekly team meetings
• Communication and project management (with artists and cooperation partners, interface to production and social media)
• Assist with the coordination and execution of events
• Possibility of relating your practice and expertise to the socio-political context of Brunnenpassage and its environment/neighbourhood

TIME SLOT: November/December 2026
ZOOM Children's Museum 

ZOOM Children's Museum was founded in 1994 as the first children's museum in Austria. In 2001, ZOOM moved to its current location in Vienna's MuseumsQuartier, making it not only a focal point for children's culture in Vienna, but also part of one of the world's largest cultural complexes. Its unique location in the heart of an extraordinary cultural district has had a major influence on ZOOM's orientation: More arts-oriented than many other children's museums, ZOOM has become a center for interaction between children and artists. Artists from a variety of disciplines work with children on topics related to science, everyday culture, sociology, philosophy, and, of course, art. Artists and scientists work together to develop the programs that ZOOM offers.
At the ZOOM Children's Museum, children are welcome to ask questions, touch and feel, investigate and play to their hearts' content. At ZOOM, play comes first and makes learning an individual process that encourages children's creativity. The way children acquire knowledge is very different from that of adults. The exhibitions and workshops at ZOOM are designed and themed to meet the special needs of children. Children from 0 to 14 years of age are the center of attention.
You will find more information about the museum and the different areas here: https://www.kindermuseum.at/jart/prj3/zoom/main.jart

JOB DESCRIPTION & REQUIREMENTS

• Required language skills: English, minimum level B2 and preferably basic knowledge of German.
• Required social skills: Preferably, the trainee already has some experience in working with children.
• Required academic skills: background in art, art history or cultural studies is helpful but not essential.

Detailed internship program:
The intern's weekly program consists of assisting the children's group leaders with various tasks (organizing workshops, setting up activities, supervising children, and interacting with museum visitors). The intern will participate in both the indoor and outdoor activities of the museum and will take part in the program of the ZOOM Studio, ZOOM Exhibition, ZOOM Animation and other laboratories organized by the museum, depending on the organization of the activities. The intern will be available to help organize and work on new workshops and events organized by the museum. The ZOOM Children's Museum will provide an initial training period in which the intern will be supervised by museum staff and activity organizers to learn the skills used in the workshops and activities offered by the museum. In addition, the intern will be accompanied in the different activities proposed and will be tutored by professionals from the different sectors and museum staff. Knowledge, skills and competences to be acquired by the end of the internship: Organize workshops and laboratories that focus on creativity and experimental practices. Communicating concepts and ideas to children in a way that emphasizes critical thinking and experimentation. Skills related to group work aimed at the achievement of learning by the child visitors: teaching artistic practices, individual capacities and possibilities of expression, discovery of personal creative potential. Practicum goals: Ability to work independently in assigned roles, understanding of concepts covered in workshops and ability to share them with museum guests. Ability to interact with museum guests, especially children and families visiting and participating in organized activities.