The Salzburg Foundation is a private initiative devoted to art in the public space. Since 2002, a number of distinguished artists have executed outdoor projects. Anselm Kiefer (2002), Mario Merz (2003), Marina Abramovic (2004), Markus Lüpertz (2005), James Turrell (2006), Stephan Balkenhol (2007) and Anthony Cragg (2008) have developed works of art in and for the city to this point. All of these projects were financed by the Salzburg Foundation without resort to public funding.

This year under the title “Vanitas”, the internationally acclaimed French artist Christian Boltanski (*1944) is staging a shadow play in the crypt of Salzburg Cathedral.