Application

The STRABAG ART Award is an award for the support of art for artists of up to 40 years in the fields of painting and drawing, which terms are freely reinterpreted for the contemporary art landscape. It has been awarded in Austria since 1994 and internationally since 2009.

Eligible to take part are artists from Austria, Germany and Slovenia.

Participants must be citizens of one of these countries or must have been permanently based in one of these countries for at least two years.

In addition, Ukrainian citizens currently residing in one of the participating countries are eligible to participate regardless of the duration of their stay.

Participants of STRABAG ART Award must be born in or after the year 1986. Parental leave can be taken into account.

Applicants must have an academic artistic education (art academy, art college, university) or comparable professional experience in the gallery and/or museum environment.

All participants accept the findings of the jury. Any recourse to legal action is excluded.

Every participant is the copyright holder. The submitted works of art will remain the property of the participant.

The participants agree that in connection with STRABAG ART Award his/her submitted works of art may be presented, photographed, printed and published online – unlimited and free-of-charge.

Submitted works of art must not have been awarded any further public art prize and must be owned by the participant.

In the event of receiving the STRABAG ART Award, STRABAG ART will have a right to purchase the submitted artworks. The purchase price is agreed to be the insurancevalue stated at the time of submission.

The participants are responsible for the accuracy of their information. Due to wrong statements, STRABAG ART may refrain from awarding the prize.

A main prize of € 16.000,- and four recognition prizes of € 8.000,- each will be awarded. In addidion, art works of the winners might be purchased for STRABAG ART Collection.

After the award ceremony and the collective exhibition of all the prize-winning works, each of the five laureates will have a solo exhibition at STRABAG ART Site in Vienna.

The laureates can apply for the artist-in-residence-programme at STRABAG ART Studios in Vienna.

All participants must apply online at strabag.art. The application form must be filled in correctly in German or English (guidance on the website). Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Eligible in the fields of painting and drawing are three works of art (one or multiple parts), which are essential for the jury’s decision.

Mandatory information:

Short biography / list of exhibitions / portrait photo / photos (RGB, jpg) of three works of art intended to enter the competition, dated between 2024 and 2026, with title, year, technique, dimensions, insurance value and photo credits stated / short statement about the submitted artworks

The maximum dimensions per artwork are 200 x 240 cm and the maximum weight per artwork is 15 kg.

There are no thematic specifications.

Optional data: Up to three photos (RGB, jpg) of exhibition views or details of the submitted artworks.

The online application process takes a while. The responsibility for completing the online application before the deadline is entirely the artists’.

Based on the submissions online, the jury makes a selection for the final jury session. From 19 March 2026, all artists will be notified in writing.

The nominees will be presented with their works of art at strabag.art

All nominees must submit the three originals specified in the online application.

The submitted originals must be marked on the back and on the outside with the labels received by mail/post.

All submitted artworks must be packed in bubble wrap or cardboard (rolls). The use of cling film / plastic foil is not allowed. Detailed information on submission and transport regulations for artworks submitted to the STRABAG ART Award will be provided separately.

Submission of the artworks at the STRABAG offices in Berlin, Cologne, Ljubljana, Munich, Stuttgart or Vienna: Mid of April 2026

Transport of the artworks to the specific STRABAG building is at the artists‘ own costs and risks. A collective transport from the specific STRABAG offices to Vienna will be organized by STRABAG ART.

It is possible to hand in additional documentation material (maximum of two catalogues and one portfolio, one copy each). This material will be returned only upon your request.

The final jury will meet on 23 April 2026 at STRABAG ART Site in Vienna. All nominees will be notified in writing on 24 April 2026.

Please note, that the submitted works will not be installed to walls for the jury session.

The returned artworks must be collected at the specific STRABAG offices in Berlin, Cologne, Ljubljana, Munich, Stuttgart or Vienna. The artworks of the five shortlisted artists will remain in Vienna for the group exhibition.

Return of the artworks: End of April 2026

At the award ceremony and the opening of the group exhibition on 25 June 2026 at STRABAG Haus, Vienna, the winner and the four recipients of recognition prizes will be announced. A catalogue for the group exhibition will be published.