Since 2022, IG Bildende Kunst, the Austrian artists' association and IAA National Committee, has been focusing specifically on the topic of age, art, and artists with its working group "Focus: Senior Artist." The aim is to initiate a rethinking in the art world and to make aging visible as a political category. This highlights power structures and obstacles, while also generating valuable experiential knowledge. The aim is to focus not only on the early stages of artists' careers, but also to shine a spotlight on the later stages of their lives and work, and to increase the visibility of older artists. Topics such as physical changes, ageism, identity, and migration experiences are reflected upon and addressed in artistic works. Using various formats, IG Bildende Kunst promotes exchange on social, legal, and existential issues, including social security, estate planning, and intergenerational knowledge.

In May 2025, Berlin's alpha nova & galeria futura, together with artist Sonya Schönberger, invited Almut Rink and Sabine Ofenbach from the Senior Artists AG to a face-to-face event and public discussion entitled “Artist for Life” ("Künstler*in lebenslang").

The IGBK and IG Bildende Kunst are now taking this successful initiative as an opportunity to further discuss the topic of "senior artists" as artists' associations in an open digital information session (via Zoom, event in German).

With contributions from Almut Rink and Ruby Sircar for IG Bildende Kunst Österreich, among others, "Senior Artists in Focus": Based on an artist survey, the two outline their work on the topic, addressing questions, fears, and problems that accompany a later phase of work, offering solutions and suggestions, and presenting best practices and art policy demands.

This will be followed by a discussion. We look forward to your input and suggestions!

About IG Bildende Kunst

IG Bildende Kunst represents the artistic, social, economic, legal, and other professional interests of visual artists in Austria. It is committed to actively shaping political decision-making processes that affect the working conditions of visual artists and to improving the structural framework for artistic work.

Info sessions 2025 (lunch sessions, etc.)

In 2025, the IGBK is offering digital info sessions on current issues relating to cross-border artistic work in Germany and its neighboring countries as an additional service. Thematic focal points are being presented and discussed in one- to two-hour information and networking meetings.

The IGBK invites partner organizations (e.g., other IAA Europe National Committees) to present their activities, report on their specific local situations, and engage in an open exchange with artists and cultural actors.

The services and programs offered by European artists' associations provide valuable information and support, for example on administrative and organizational issues that artists encounter in their (international) work.

In order to make these services and current projects accessible to a wider public, the IGBK would like to use these online sessions to offer a transfer of know-how for artists and at the same time strengthen cooperation between European partners.

Further announcements at https://www.igbk.de/en/service-e/news-service

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