In November 2008, Bank Austria will present the Georg Eisler Art Acquisition Prize for the 11th time.

This prize is dedicated to the memory of painter Georg Eisler, who passed away in 1998. With a prize amount of €12,000, the Georg Eisler Prize is one of the most generously endowed art awards in Austria.

The prize is awarded annually to an Austrian artist. The decision is made by the Art Advisory Board of Bank Austria, with the jury appointed for a five-year term.

A new jury was selected last year, consisting of the following members:

- Dr. Rudi Fuchs, former director of the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam

- Toni Stooss, director of the Museum der Moderne Salzburg

- Dr. Susanne Berchtold, representing Dr. Alice Eisler for the Georg Eisler Foundation

- Dr. Ingried Brugger, director of the Bank Austria Kunstforum

- Dr. Ariane Neuberger, head of the Bank Austria Art Collection

In addition, Stefan Sandner, last year’s winner, will take part in this year’s jury session.

Participants in the Georg Eisler Art Acquisition Prize are nominated by external art experts and professors from art academies.

All forms of painting are eligible. Both individual works and work groups may be submitted. There are no thematic restrictions, offering artists complete creative freedom.

Past winners:

2007: Stefan Sandner

2006: Bernd Koller

2005: Gerlind Zeilner

2004: Maja Vukoje

2003: Katrin Plavcak

2002: Johanna Freise

2001: Alois Mosbacher

2000: Dorit Margreiter

1999: Agnes Fuchs, Anna Meyer, Leo Zogmayer

1998: Oswald Auer, Michaela Spiegel, Norbert Trummer, Sybille Uitz

This year, 25 artists submitted works for the Georg Eisler Prize:

Alfredo Barsuglia, Thomas Baumann, Max Boehme, Jakob Demus, Ludwig Gerstacker, Michaela Ghisetti, Bertram Hasenauer, Stephan Hilge, Hanna Hollmann, Christian Hutzinger, Luisa Kasalicky, Ronald Kodritsch, Marie-Luise Lebschik, Robert Lettner, Joseph Marsteurer, Julia Maurer, Nicole Mermon, Drago Persic, Elisabeth Plank, Bianca Regl, Michaela Reska, Frenzi Rigling-Mosbacher, Martin Schnur, Josef Schwaiger, Stefan Wykydal