Perspectives of Professional Practice

In the intensive time of studies, students are busy with finding and/or manifesting their artistic direction, gaining solid theoretical knowledge and besides this having an often unclear vision of what the professional practice will look like after graduation and how to make the first steps after graduating. In this course, we will show you based on different narratives what professional practices can look like and which steps need to be taken in order to get there.

In the run of this course we will provide input through lecture-format and in discussion with experts. We will give an overview of the institutional landscape, an insight to basics of project management, tips and tricks concerning writing proposals, internal and external communication, financing, taxes, self employment and many many more.

ATTENTION:
This course is a co-teaching format. In order to receive all ECTS points, please attend both seminars with the title "Perspektiven beruflicher Praxis" (Lecturers: Alexandra Graupner and Angelika Zelisko, course numbers: S04219 and S04221).
This course is offered in English

Resources and formats:
The course offers personal discussions with professionals from different fields and institutions. There will be a variety of formats like straightforward lectures, discussions and reflections. Invited guests from different institutional and professional backgrounds will provide a deeper and personal insight into different fields of practice.

Reflective journal:
You use a reflective journal to write down/ draw/ put in learning, actions, situations, cases, reflections based on personalisation of the experiences for your own creative practise. Reflective sessions will be introduced throughout the semester as well as in the final session of the course.

Learning Outcomes: 
After attending the lecture series the students will be able to find their way through the following areas: 

• finance in culture and arts: the students is able to understand the different possibilities of finding sufficient resources of financial means to obtain a living and pursue what you love doing (via self-employment, fundings, research); Further,  budgeting and cultural management tools will be introduced; 
• soft skills in cultural management: team structures, internal communication, conflicts, interculture; 
• process of writing proposals and overview of institutions (Financing); 
• Social skills (networking); 
• communication and social media;
• basics of self-employment and entrepreneurship; 

Professional behavior in context:
Our goal is to offer slivers of different areas of possible artistic futures. Students are able to get a better grip on the often overwhelming amount of opportunities and fears that come with graduating through being offered helpful research and resources. The learner should be able to identify possible chances and strategies of setting up professional artistic lives and learn from experiences and narratives of other fellow students, teachers, alumni and relevant institutions.

Prerequisites for grading:
regular participation (unexcused absence in maximum 1 session)
active participation
reflective journal
handing in of a final paper

Overview Sessions:

1. Session 15.10. 10:30 - 12:30
Intro and Lecture Overview: the Why, How and Who

2.Session 22.10. 10:30 - 12:30
“The Big Picture” pt1 - Themes & Contents: Introduction to project management, financing your idea and the institutional landscape (who can help me with what I'm doing?)

3. Session 5.11. 10:30 - 12:30 
Guest: ANTOINETTE RHOMBERG on self-employment. Price calculation, tax, new self-employment or which business form do I choose? Accounting, social security... Antoinette gives a short insight into the contents of her course (https://base.uni-ak.ac.at/courses/2025S/S03014/) and is happy to answer your questions.

4. Session 12.11. 10:30 - 12:30
“The Big Picture”  pt2

5. Session 19.11. 10:30 - 12:30
Alexander Damianisch on Artistic Research - career paths, funding possibilities and how to find your way to artistic research

6.Session 26.11. 10:30 - 12:30
tbc. Vienna Business Agency about their offer for self-employment and funding opportunities (funding for the self-employed, support in application processes, good practice examples, workshops on all aspects of self-employment)

7. Session 3.12. 10:30 - 12:30
Alumni Talk

8. Session 10.12. 10:30 - 12:30
Session on the curator's perspective. Jeanette Pacher from Secession gives us a glimpse of the curators perspective. 
PLEASE NOTE: This session will take place at Secession!

9. Session 17.12. 10:30 - 12.30
Karl Salzmann on Artsitsic Parctice
https://base.uni-ak.ac.at/courses/2025W/S05817/

10. Session 07.01. 10:30 - 12:00 
Session on how to learn about Future Skills (and what they are)

11. Session 14.01. 10:30 - 12:30
Me, Myself & Everybody Else aka the VillageGroup Work and Reflection