The Centre for Austrian Studies at the University of Aberdeen invites the public to attend a performance by the experimental artist Dieter Sperl and the video artist Astrid Becksteiner at the University of Aberdeen’s Regent Lecture Theatre on Thursday, 24th February at 7:30 pm who are at the University as part of the Centre’s newly-founded writer/artist in residence programme.
Dieter Sperl and Astrid Becksteiner will be visiting Aberdeen from 14-25 February, and over the fortnight Dieter Sperl has been running a literary workshop on experimental prose forms and Astrid Becksteiner has been offering an audio-visual workshop.
The new Writer/Artist in Residence Programme at the University of Aberdeen has been founded with the support of the Austrian Cultural Institute in London. The aim of the programme is to establish connections with Scottish artists and writers, and so to facilitate cultural exchange between Austria and Britain.
The Head of the Department of German, Dr Gordon Burgess, said: "This is the first major event to be held in Aberdeen by the Centre for Austrian Studies. We are delighted to welcome these two artists to Aberdeen, particularly at what is a difficult time for Austria and her European partners. Perhaps this visit and this performance can help to further the understanding between Austria and Scotland and break down the barriers of prejudice.”
He said: “Both Astrid and Dieter are running workshops for our students of German. This has been a splendid opportunity for our students not only to work with well-known young writers but also to extend
their linguistic skills and knowledge of another culture, something that is fundamental to the work of a University Modern Languages Department.”
The Centre for Austrian Studies is based in the Universities of Edinburgh and Aberdeen and collaborates with the Austrian Cultural Institute in London. It works in close contact with academic and cultural institutions in Austria, including the Universities of Vienna and Graz. Co-operation takes the form of conferences, seminars and publications.