Calixto María Schmutter, a graduate in directing, has been nominated in the Best Emerging Talent category (Costume Design, Direction, Composition & Sound, Play) for the prestigious NESTROY Award. The nomination recognizes the direction, composition, and sound design for “The Tempest or La Isla Bonita,” based on William Shakespeare’s play—a co-production of the Tyrolean State Theater and the Thomas Bernhard Institute at the Mozarteum University.

On Thursday, we will once again take to the streets together under the slogan “Alarm Level Red – #SaveOurUniversities!” to protest against the chronic underfunding of our universities and to demand a high-quality and equitable university education. Instead of the minimum €18 billion required, the federal government is planning to allocate only around €16 billion to universities for the period from 2028 to 2030. This leaves a shortfall of €2 billion, with devastating consequences for teaching, student support, and working conditions.

Innsbruck-based artist Lorena Mantl had already made it into the top 5 of the Ö1 Talent Scholarship for visual arts and was the only finalist from Western Austria. On October 7, 2026, the Talent Scholarship was awarded; Lorena Mantl won the online preliminary round—the Audience Award secures her free participation in the “Artist Statement” as part of the Parallel Vienna 2027 art fair. Congratulations!