Association of austrian artists
The Künstlerhaus is a house of art, rich in tradition. Founded in 1861 with the merger of two artist associations, it has remained a non-profit organisation to this day. Due to its size and importance, the association has always had a major influence on the cultural scene in Vienna and Central Europe. The history of the association ranges from the painter Hans Makart, whose work centered around the Künstlerhaus in the 80s of the 19th century, to the artist-festivals which became an institution up until the 1960's, and to the milestones of exhibition history such as "Traum und Wirklichkeit" (Dream and Reality) in 1984. Today the association comprises nearly 500 member artists from all fields of the fine arts.