19. November 2020
Dear
university members,
the number of infections in Austria is still extremely high––in relation to
the population, it is currently the highest in the world––, which means that hospital capacities are also increasingly reaching
their limits.
In view of the seriousness of the situation, the Austrian
art universities decided last weekend, jointly and unanimously, to use a red operating mode, which reduces the presence at
the universities to an absolute minimum during the time of the lockdown imposed by the government (see email from So, 15.11.2020).
These measures are also intended to support the efforts to avoid contact in public spaces, which are in effect throughout
Austria until December 6.
We ask you all to accept this unpleasant but necessary situation
for the moment.
In general, specific exemptions cannot be granted during this period. In view of the high number
of requests in the last few days, it is also no longer possible to respond to individual needs in detail, so as not to jeopardize
current operations and the preparation of scenarios for the period after December 7.
The
Rectorate will continuously analyze the situation and inform you at the beginning of December about new regulations for the
time after December 7. In this regard, we are in close exchange with the BMBWF as well as the rectorates of the other art
universities in order to be able to communicate a longer-term perspective until the end of the winter semester.
We
thank you for your understanding.
Best regards
Gerald Bast, Bernhard Kernegger, Barbara
Putz-Plecko, Eva Maria Stadler und Maria Zettler
Rektorat
Rektorate