Cultural Diplomacy

Salzburg became a cradle for thinking about the role of the arts in peace-making after the First World War. In 1921, an international women's network met here and articulated music's potential for reconciliation and cross-cultural understanding. Peace was sustainable, they argued, not by having high-profile speakers deliver statements at annual summits, but by establishing strategic, long-term educational programmes in cultural diplomacy.

International Collaboration 

In the 1920s, Salzburg was a beacon of humanism and soft-power diplomacy, attracting artists and audiences from around the world. Putting theory into practice, several organisations attempted to remake the festival city into the Geneva of the musical world. A global perspective is needed to drive innovation and activate the collective intelligence that comes from collaboration and intercultural exchange.

Artistic Excellence

In 1919, the founders of the Salzburg Festival expressed their commitment to radical cultural renewal by proclaiming the centrality of artistic excellence — "von allem das Höchste!" (from everyone the best!)  Prismatically reflecting a century of European cultural identity, Salzburg's super-saturated cultural atmosphere demands the highest academic standards.

Academic Freedom

SIAS protects and promotes indepentent academic inquiry, discourse, and publishing. We uphold the right to free and critical thought — through research, performance, and public dialogue — as the foundation of democratic culture.

Women in Diplomacy, Education & Research

We believe women are natural leaders in diplomacy, science, and the arts, providing powerful catalysts for fostering mutual understanding and peaceful cooperation across borders and ideologies.

Public Scholarship 

Knowledge must serve the public good. SIAS promotes research and education that reaches beyond the walls of academia to shape discourse, policy, and the civic imagination.

Civic Responsibility 

SIAS is committed to nurturing informed, empathetic leaders who act with integrity and accountability in service to a just society.

Global Perspectives

Rooted in Salzburg, connected to the world  — SIAS forges partnerships across institutions, continents, and traditions to foster international collaboration.

Interdisciplinary

We build bridges. Our work moves across disciplinary borders and brings together scholars, artists, diplomats, and activists to approach complex global issues from multiple perspectives.

Legacy & Innovation

We honour historical memory and institutional heritage while innovating boldly to address today and tomorrow’s challenges. Salzburg is moving into the future by bringing its history along with it.

• Fostered partnerships with leading universities and cultural organisations worldwide

• Collaborated with over 60 international scholars and practitioners since inception 

• Presented public events and exhibitions reaching thousands

SIAS's mission is to engage, educate, and inspire the next generation of leaders in a world where festivals increasingly serve as powerful forums for connecting people, cultures, and ideas.