The Salzburger Kunstverein was founded in 1844 by Prince-Archbishop Friedrich Schwarzenberg, along with artists and representatives of the civic society with an invested interest in art. It became one of the first institutions of its kind in Austria. The interest of the population was so high that on May 9,1844 the citizens of Salzburg proudly reported in a letter to the district office in Linz that 600 participants had registered. In 1885 the ‘Kunstlerhaus’, housing studios and exhibition area was built in a style typical for the late 19th century. Today it is Salzburg’s only remaining building dating from the 1880s.

The Salzburger Kunstverein was founded to promote and sell contemporary fine art from the territories of the monarchy and neighbouring foreign countries, and is thus a forerunner model to the private gallery. Initially the works were distributed in a similar fashion to prizes in a raffle, in order to spare the middle classes the need to decide which works of art to select.

Since the 1990s, the association has introduced and consistently followed an international programme in keeping with the intentions of the founders.

The building ‘Kunstlerhaus’, owned by the Salzburger Kunstverein, houses exhibition spaces and 21 studios for artists and those in the creative industries. It is a place where current trends in contemporary international art are presented, where artists can meet and be met, and where art, art theory and cultural policies can be analysed and discussed. Since 1998 the exhibition and events program has been given a dominant theme that changes annually.

Since 1992, the Salzburger Kunstverein’s program has been developed and organised by its respective Director, (Silvia Eiblmayr, Hildegund Amanshause and since 2005, Hemma Schmutz), which aims to meet international standards. In 2008 the Salzburger Kunstverein was rewarded with the ADKV-ART COLOGNE Award for its excellence in exhibition work and educational activity (together with the WestfŠlischen Kunstverein Munster). Great significance is attached to the involvement of the local public and local artists. The association has about 550 members, of which 350 are artists.

The Salzburger Kunstverein presents ten exhibitions a year (five in the Great Hall und five in the Cabinet) and mural projects in the Ring Gallery mezzanine and the newly adapted Ring gallery ground floor.

Most outstanding projects in recent years:

Performing the East, 2009;

Peter Piller. In Lšcher blicken, 2007;

Ion Grigorescou. On the Ground, 2006;

Ines Doujak Dirty Old Women, 2005;

Ring me!, 2010-2011.

In addition to its exhibition program, the Salzburger Kunstverein aspires to discover new forms of promoting art through symposia, lectures, workshops and networking projects with other institutions.

Each exhibition offers the opportunity for discussions with participating artists through presentations and lectures. The annual lecture series, Open Academy, introduces a particular theme to public. Recent successful topics include; documenta, Art in Public Space and, Painting Today the medium and its message. The film series Videodialogs, with the Salzburg artist, Fritz Rucker, presents up to four film evenings a year, to show films by artists in an atmosphere to watch, discuss and eat.

Open Day, an annual event, the KŸnstlerhaus opens its doors to the public who can take behind the scenes look at the Kunstlerhaus to experience how artists and artistic initiatives operate. For its members the Salzburger Kunstverein organizaes an art trip each year.

The education team ARTgenossen works on three exhibitions each year to develop a special educational program for school children and apprentices.

Galleries, 700 m2.