The motto of new 2012 course programme is "to jump into the abyss, only to resurface"*. Detailed descriptions of the courses are available here

We wish you a prosperous and productive New Year, and we would be delighted to welcome you at the 2012 Summer Academy.

* After Milena Dragicevic

For two weeks in August, our "Photographer in Residence" Jay Caboz has explored the Summer Academy and its context and has developed and carried out a photographic project dealing with the Academy, the courses, the locations, the surroundings, the atmosphere, the city etc. Here you can see the result. More info about Jay Caboz here.

For three days, Rosa Maria Plattner has plunged into the courses of 2011 Summer Academy to make this documentary. It will initially be broadcasted on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, at 9 p.m. on BR-alpha. It can be received via satellite ASTRA 1L (analogue) or ASTRA 1H (digital) all over Europe. Find more information here

As we had the first Finissage of the summer at the Fortress, the second one marked the Saline's time to shine. And shine it did.

Most remarkable were the works of the photography class, jumping at visitors from all over the building, causing people to wonder time and again how the students managed to do all this in the relatively short period of three weeks. But also the jewellery class held some surprises, as well as the other classes that did their fair share in filling the entire Salinewith art pieces, something the first term had lacked a bit as people stayed more bound to their classrooms then.

The trend of short speeches was continued, the evening turned out to be not that short though. From the inner courtyard of the Alte Saline, proceedings moved to the Café Kult in Künstlerhaus, a location that also played its part in the last weeks, then across the street to Denkmal, where the party seems to have worn on until the wee hours of the morning. Rumours even tell of a spontaneous trip to a nearby public pool, although details won't be disclosed here as we of course cannot condone such illegal behaviour.

What remains to say is that it has been a fantastic time for all of us involved, sometimes more taxing, sometimes less, but always with evenings like this Finissage that would remind us just why we're part of this (it's not for the money, that's for sure). Now, as we say goodbye to all the great new people we were able to meet and pack up for the winter, there's already a tiny bit of excitement as the first of us begins to say: Next year, we could ... Until then, I wish everybody involved a good time, some rest and hopefully a lot of new ideas and impulses gained from this experience. So long, and possibly see you next year. [mp]

Today, walking through the once-again deserted rooms of the Fortress, I looked back on the last three weeks and the open day they culminated in last Friday. Maybe due to the good weather, the rooms thronged with visitors walking through the rooms, culling their impulse to touch the clay figures in the sculpting class, marvelling at the many colourful paintings in Katrin Plavcaks class, encountering a city or intently watching a recorded performance. The fruits of this second term have been diverse and plentiful, with some students discovering new directions, other finding out they'd rather explore a different one.

As our part of the Fortress now once again plunges into hibernation, I can just say it's been a wonderful time up here. We had fascinating classes, interesting teachers, assistants doing great jobs, wonderful students, and not to forget, a brilliant team that was an utmost pleasure to work with. It's definitely not to early to start looking forward to next year. We certainly will, once we're all fully recharged. [mp]