Next Stage Apprentice Initiative

By founding the “Academy for Theater Craftsmanship”, the Austrian Federal Theatres are offering young people the opportunity to gain a sound professional qualification in craftsmanship, business management and technical fields in an inspiring environment. The aim of the academy is to provide young people with theater-specific and versatile general training opportunities in addition to dual vocational training, preparing them for a successful professional future in one of the country's most diverse and creative cultural sectors. With commitment, creativity and team spirit, our apprentices can not only complete vocational training, but also become part of a dynamic network rich in tradition.

Diverse training professions

The range of apprenticeships at the Austrian Federal Theatres is impressive. Young people currently have the opportunity to train in eight different apprenticeships in the technical, craft and commercial sectors. This diversity and the exchange between disciplines enables young people to make the most of their personal talents and interests and to develop in a specialized field.

High-quality training

The high demands of the theater go far beyond traditional curricula and require special training concepts. Our apprentice training is characterized by a high standard of quality. In addition to practical work in the workshops, on stage or in the office, trainees receive comprehensive theater-specific knowledge and a holistic understanding of the theater craft. The content ranges from theater history and stylistics to freehand drawing. Know-how on topics such as fire protection in set construction are also part of the training. In addition, the apprentices benefit from experienced trainers who not only impart specialist knowledge, but also share their passion for the world of theater.

Support and development

The individual development of our apprentices is not neglected. Through in-depth workshops, internal training and the opportunity to work on projects, young talents are encouraged to think outside the box and develop their skills. Apprentices are also given the opportunity to acquire additional qualifications as part of practical modules. In addition to their chosen apprenticeship, they have the opportunity to take another trade as an optional subject. In this course, they learn basic skills and abilities in our in-house workshops over a period of three years. In this way, we create a holistic understanding of theater operations and all the associated process steps. The new “Academy for Theater Crafts” is coordinated by a pedagogical director. She is available as a central contact person to support the young people in both professional and private matters and is the link between apprentices, trainers and all external stakeholders.

Additional offers

In the third year of their apprenticeship, apprentices have the opportunity to experience the entire theater-specific project management live and accompany all production steps of the theater work from planning, conception and implementation to the premiere. The comprehensive training program is supplemented by the possibility of national and international apprentice exchanges as part of Erasmus+. In the second expansion phase, the Austrian Federal Theatres would like to open up the “Academy for Theater Craftsmanship” to other theater companies in Vienna. The aim is to give external apprentices the opportunity to acquire theater-specific knowledge at the Austrian Federal Theaters.

Career opportunities

After completing their apprenticeship, graduates have numerous opportunities for professional development. Many former apprentices remain loyal to the Austrian Federal Theatres and pursue a career here, while others use the qualifications they have acquired to gain a foothold in the national or international cultural scene. The “Academy for Theater Craftsmanship” thus becomes an important building block of the Austrian training landscape in the cultural sector.

The Austrian Federal Theatres see themselves as industry leaders, where not only art at the highest level takes place, but where further developments and innovations are also promoted as part of the cultural policy mandate. The “Academy for Theatre Craftsmanship” is a unique training program that cultivates the tradition of Austrian theater history and develops it in a future-oriented manner.