EKA Rector Hilkka Hiiop hosted the Ambassador of the Republic of Austria, Peter Mikl, on 2 June. The focus of the working visit was the next phase in the more than 20-year-long cooperation between the two countries.
Student exchange between EKA and Austrian academic institutions began in 2004, when the first Erasmus+ mobilities to Vienna were launched. Over the years, the partnership has grown stronger, encompassing joint exhibitions and research projects.
During the meeting, Peter Mikl introduced the PART International Art Residency Austria, an initiative of the Austrian Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport. The programme will officially open on 13 June 2025 in Vienna’s historic Southern Pavilion of the Prater Ateliers, surrounded by the unique floodplain forest and originally built for the 1873 World’s Fair.
PART will host artists, curators, and scholars from around the world, offering a space for interdisciplinary creation, experimentation, and cross-cultural dialogue. The programme has been developed by Alexandra Grausam, Director of AWAY Art Residencies. Grausam is planning a visit to Estonia in the second half of September 2025 to discuss concrete cooperation opportunities with EKA and other local partners.
The visit reaffirmed the vitality and future potential of the EKA–Austria relationship.
