Classism in Higher Education

Deadline: Wednesday, Nov 12, 2025, 11:00am

The Working Group on Equal Opportunities (AfG) invites all students to submit images on the topic of classism at universities. Selected works will be used in a campaign aimed at raising awareness of classism and addressing the disadvantages associated with it. The submitted images will be printed on postcards and shared on the academy’s website and social media platforms.

Classism refers to a form of discrimination based on a person’s social background and their social and economic status. It includes prejudices, stigmatization and systemic disadvantages tied to one’s upbringing, financial situation or social environment. People who are homeless, unemployed, from working-class backgrounds, or from less privileged backgrounds are especially affected.

Classism often involves stereotypical ideas about “lower” social classes which are perceived as less valuable or capable. This form of discrimination can manifest in various contexts, including education and the workplace. Classism is closely linked to other forms of discrimination such as racism or sexism, and it contributes to the reinforcement of social inequality.

While Austrian law explicitly addresses characteristics such as gender, ethnicity and sexual orientation in anti-discrimination policies, socioeconomic background is not yet included. To bring more attention to this issue and counteract classism on a structural level, the AfG has advocated for the inclusion of classist harassment and derogatory behavior in the academy’s equality plan.

We look forward to your submissions and to collectively making a statement for broader awareness and sensitivity in addressing classism.

Jury

The jury consists of three members of the Working Group on Equal Opportunities (including one student representative) and one external member.

Eligibility

• You must be an actively enrolled student at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna
• You must be reachable during October 2025 for potential questions regarding post-production

Submission Guidelines

Each participant may submit one work only. Submissions must include print-ready files in both .jpg and .tif format with a minimum resolution of 300 dpi and a brief concept description (approx. 500 characters) explaining how the work is related to the topic of classism.

By submitting, participants confirm that they hold the rights to the submitted works. They agree that the AfG may use their work - while crediting the creators - for printed postcards and digital distribution. All participants consent to publication of their work with proper attribution. Usage rights for the selected image(s) will be held by the AfG. Credit to the author(s) will always be provided wherever the image is used.

Required Formats:

• print-ready files .jpg and .tif, DIN A6 format (105 mm x 148 mm + 2 mm bleed on all sides; CMYK, 300 dpi)

• online layout variations:
  1. Square format (e.g. for social media): 1080 x 1350 px, RGB
  2. Banner format (e.g. for website): 2048 x 1365 px, RGB

File naming: LastName_FirstName_Classism25_Image1

Submissions are accepted exclusively via the academy’s submission platform https://calls.akbild.ac.at/.

Award

The jury will select one to two images, each of which will be awarded EUR 500,-.

Contact

For questions regarding the content of this call, please contact af_gleichbehandlung@akbild.ac.at or +43 (1) 588 16 - 3400.

For further information please contact Eleonora Ciani (af_gleichbehandlung@akbild.ac.at, +43 (1) 588 16 - 3400 )

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