Anhang 1: https://uni-ak.at/accounts/anhang/IKKK_2025_08_12_15_03_Call_Mental_Load_EN_fin.pdf

CALL Mental Load and Invisible Work

An exhibition entitled Mental Load and Invisible Work will take place in the Trinkhalle Bad Ischl and in the Sudhaus of Salinen Austria. This is the call for entries for contributions from all sectors of the arts. The jury will decide what will be exhibited and how.

Jury: Daniela Auerbach, Ruth Mateus-Berr, Pia Scharler, Christina Carli, Tanja Prušnik, Jakob Reitinger, Günther Oberhollenzer

Theme: We invite artists to submit works that address the theme of mental load and invisible work. How does the invisible burden of organizing, planning, and caring shape our lives, our relationships, and our society? What stories can be told about this, and how can artistic forms of expression make the invisible visible?

Background: Mental load describes the often invisible responsibility of organizing and managing everyday life. It disproportionately affects women and marginalized groups in particular. This form of work often goes unnoticed, unseen, and unpaid—yet it is essential. With this exhibition, we want to educate, reflect, and create a space for dialogue.

Who can apply?
We are looking for artists from all disciplines, including painting, drawing, sculpture, textile art, architecture, photography, video, performance, digital art, literature, design, and interdisciplinary approaches. Both established artists and newcomers are invited to participate.

Criteria: Relevance to the topic, originality, aesthetics, communication, feasibility

Discussion of the topic, possible questions:
• How does invisible work manifest itself in our everyday lives?
• What are the emotional, psychological, and physical effects of mental load?
• How does the perception of invisible work change in different contexts (e.g., culture, gender, class)?
• What collective or individual strategies are there to make mental load visible or to alleviate it?

Format und details:
• Deadline for submissions: October 15, 2025
• Type of submission: digital, maximum size 10MB
• Exhibition dates: March 3–17, 2026
• Exhibition venue: Trinkhalle, Bad Ischl and Sudhaus of Salinen Austria

How can I participate?
Please send your submissions by October 15, 2025, to call-for-artists[at]uni-ak.ac.at
Confirmation of transfer of the amount of €50 (free for students of the University of Applied Arts) to the account: University of Applied Arts Vienna, Center for Art Didactics and Interdisciplinary Education AT41 1200 0512 6020 0201 add until October 15, 2025.

The submission must contain:
• A description of your work (max. 500 words), including reference to the theme.
• Biographical information and a brief CV (max. 300 words in complete sentences).
• Images of the work or, if relevant, links to videos/performance recordings.

Contact: If you have any questions, please contact call-for-artists[at]uni-ak.ac.at

We look forward to hearing your perspectives and interpretations on this important and often overlooked topic!