Established in 1995 and located in the UNESCO world heritage Wachau, the University for Continuing Education Krems is the first public university in Europe which specializes in advanced continuing education. The Center for Image Science in the Department for Arts and Cultural Studies is embedded in the Faculty of Education, Arts and Architecture. It is an internationally unique institution for research and innovative teaching on all forms of images. The far-reaching transformation process of contemporary art and culture and their institutions triggered by new media are at the center of the interdisciplinary research focuses. Answers are given to the image revolution that today pervades fields of our society. Professional fields which deal with images receive a broad theoretical and practical survey over the historical and most current forms of images and imaging. From print graphics to micromovies, from film and photography to Media Art, the study at the Department for Image Science covers large parts of art and image history with original sources. Image worlds from art, science, politics and economy are analysed and their origin, development and preservation are taught by an international faculty, at this point 120 scholars from various nations and disciplines, like: Sean CUBITT, Lev MANOVICH, Jeffrey SHAW, a.o. The innovative approach of the Center for Image Science with the close connection to practice is strengthened by the development of innovative databases for images and videos such as the “Archive of Digital Art” (www.digitalartarchive.at). Within a research project funded by the Austrian Science fund, a bridge-building meta-thesaurus between traditional/historical art and media art is currently being developed. Besides, the Department of Image Science has recently participated in an international project funded by the Australian Research Council; This project asked how issues of geographic distance (set against the relative portability of media art) have affected the historical development of media art in Australia.
Faculty
Oliver GRAU is internationally renowned as a leading figure of the new discipline Image Science with a focus on Media Art Research (Art&Science). In 2005, he was appointed the first Chair Professor of Image Science in the German speaking countries at University of Continuing Education Krems. He was invited to more than 280 lectures world wide, is translated in 13 languages and received various awards. His book “Virtual Art. From Illusion to Immersion”, MIT Press is the most quoted book in Art History worldwide since 2000. He has chaired various research projects and developed new international curricula for Image Science MA and MediaArtHistories MA. Since 2002, he has initiated interdisciplinary conferences of scholars engaged in media art and its history.
Christian HANUS is Professor at the Department for Building and Environment at the University of Continuing Education Krems. He specialized in the preservation of ancient monuments and solar architecture. In 2007, he developed the university study course „Redevelopment and Revitalisation“ at the University of Continuing Education Krems and was responsible for several research projects. In 2010, he was appointed head of the newly established center for architectural cultural heritage and established a research programme within the UNESCO world heritage site. He organised the settlement of the international archive for building culture of EUROPA NOSTRA at the University of Continuing Education Krems. He published books on building culture and solar architecture and conducted research projects such as the EU-funded project ‘Extension of the Danube Limes – UNESCO World heritage in the Lower Danube area’ (01/01/12-30/09/14).
Ramón REICHERT is Professor at the Department of Theatre, Film and Media Studies at the University of Vienna. His research interests include the historiography of media and technology, the impact of new media and communication technologies such as the Internet, social media, visual culture and identity politics. He is author or “Amateure im Netz: Selbstmanagement und Wissenstechniken im Web 2.0“ (2008), “Das Wissen der Börse: Medien und Praktiken des Finanzmarktes“ (2009), “Die Macht der Vielen“ (2013) and (co-)editor of “Neue Medien“ (2006), “Theorien des Comics“ (2011), “Big-Data“ (2013). He conducted a number of projects such as „Europäische Geschichte und Öffentlichkeit“ (2006-2009).