The Group feels that arts and culture make an important contribution to a society's quality of life. For this reason, Vienna Insurance Group, its Group companies and Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein initiate and promote cultural projects and artists.
Fifth wrapping of the Ringturm* by László Fehér
With this fifth wrapping of the Ringturm, Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein, the principal shareholder of Vienna Insurance Group, once again puts a clear pictorial symbol of the arts into the public sphere. The prominent location on the Vienna Ringstraße, where it joins up with the Franz-Josefs-Kai and opens onto the Danube Canal, provides an effective venue for public presentations of contemporary art for residents of Vienna and the city’s many visitors. The work, "Society", by the Hungarian artist László Fehér transforms the Ringturm from an office building into an "Art Tower". This was the first time that an artist from one of Austria's neighbouring countries was commissioned to create a work of art exclusively for this installation. Günter Geyer's invitations to the opening ceremonies were accepted by the Chancellor of Austria Werner Faymann, the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orbán and many other guests from the areas of culture, business and politics.
Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra
Vienna Insurance Group has supported the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra since 2011. The orchestra was founded in 1986 with the aim of helping young Austrian musicians play music with their colleagues from the former CSSR and Hungary. Since 1992, the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra has been open to musicians younger than 26 years of age from anywhere in Europe.
The orchestra offers highly talented young musicians the opportunity to work together with the great conductors and soloists of their time. Auditions are held each year between October and December in more than twenty-five European cities. More than two thousand talented musicians from all over Europe apply every year. A jury of prominent orchestra musicians selects the musicians that may take part in the orchestral project. These musicians then work together with the most distinguished conductors and soloists of our time and appear in prestigious concert halls and festivals in Europe and around the world during Easter and summer tours.
* Principal shareholder Wiener Städtische Versicherungsverein provided all or a major part of the support for these activities.
