Phileas is a new, philanthropic organisation based in Vienna that raises private funding to support contemporary art. It brings together artists, collectors, galleries and museums, collaborating with them to enable the production, exhibition and acquisition of art for public collections.
The programme has a dual focus, supporting projects by international artists within Austria and by Austrian artists on the international landscape. Over the last 12 months, Phileas has provided substantial funding for the exhibition and acquisition of Amie Siegel’s three-part work Provenance for the MAK, Vienna; an exhibition and acquisition of two works by Latifa Echakhch for the Lentos Kunstmuseum, Linz; the publication accompanying an exhibition of Vija Celmins at the Secession, Vienna; and the exhibition by Heimo Zobernig in the Austrian Pavilion at the 56th Venice Biennale, together with its catalogue.
The programme for 2016 includes funded collaborations with the Museum Moderner Kunst, Vienna, for a retrospective exhibition of Július Koller; the Austrian Film Museum, Vienna, for the acquisition of Guy Debord’s entire body of cinematographic work; the Vienna State Opera and museum in progress for the Safety Curtain by Tauba Auerbach for the 2016–17 opera and ballet season; das weisse haus, Vienna, for a graduate internship programme; the Kunsthaus Bregenz for an exhibition of Theaster Gates; the Salzburger Kunstverein and Kunsthalle Darmstadt for a travelling exhibition of Hans Schabus; and the Liverpool Biennial for the commission of a new work by Oliver Laric.
Phileas also organises an annual research trip for international curators and critics to artists’ studios and institutions in Austria. The first trip in November 2015 was attended by curators from Magasin III (Stockholm), the Barbican (London), Museum Wiesbaden, Palais de Tokyo (Paris), Whitechapel Art Gallery (London), and WIELS (Brussels), along with critics from frieze. A second research trip will take place in November 2016.
Phileas is an independent, non-profit organisation funded by the annual contributions of its Partners and Junior Partners. It was founded by directors Jasper Sharp and Moritz Stipsicz.
The deadline for applications for funding in 2017 is Friday, June 24, 2016.
Applications can only be made by institutions, and materials can be requested by sending an email to programme manager Stefanie Reisinger at office@phileasprojects.org.
For further information, please see www.phileasprojects.org.
