The summer school of the 2026 summer semester engages with the transformative situation of Eisenerz, a mining town developing strategies to deal with a shrinking population and a large number of building vacancies due to a shrinking mining workforce. In this complex post/industrial setting, we will work on the conception and realization of group projects. We will (1) analyse regional-scale transformation together with specific small-scale realisations of urban and social changes, and (2) respond to them with appropriate engagements and public encounters developed in close collaboration with local project partners (associations, festival, municipality). Their knowledges are starting points for projects responsive to the needs of the communities. We will collaborate intensively, based on mutual learnings across generations, contexts, skills and abilities.

The overarching theme of the summer schools of JKU and ANG is ‘transformation in practice.’

Students actively contribute to the transdisciplinary project work. Beforehand, they familiarise themselves with the provided research material and conduct their fieldwork. They document, reflect and publish their work.

Participation in August enables onsite involvement in a public festival but is not mandatory.

Students of the School for Transformation will be given priority admission, as it is a mandatory course for them. Financial travel support is only provided to students of the School for Transformation.  

Individual fieldwork takes place between 24/04 and 22/05.  All dates after 17.4. are provisional and may still be subject to change. However, all dates are currently planned for Fridays in coordination with the JKU Summer School.

Please feel free to contact the course teacher at any time: karin.reisinger@uni-ak.ac.at