Kunstforum Wien closes in August: Insolvency hits the cultural scene hard!

Kunstforum Wien closes in August: Insolvency hits the cultural scene hard!

The Bank Austria Kunstforum Wien, a central player in the Austrian art scene since its founding in 1980, will close at the end of August due to the bankruptcy of real estate company Signa. There were first indications of an impending closure as early as December 2024; this caused resistance in the cultural scene. Dozens of artists, including greats like Erwin Wurm and VALIE EXPORT, demonstrated against this decision, which is now becoming a reality Deutschlandfunk culture reported.

The background to the closure

The head of the art forum, Ingried Brugger, spoke to the media critically about Bank Austria, which had acted as the main sponsor since 2002. She emphasized that continued operation was no longer possible under the changed conditions and that she was faced with high penalties that could drive the club into insolvency. At the same time, Brugger rejected allegations that the art forum was already in financial difficulties. Her criticism was also directed at the chairman of the board, Ivan Vlaho, whom she accused of a lack of commitment to the art forum. According to Brugger, the rumored investment sum of eight million euros for structural measures was "fake", while Bank Austria speaks of a necessary expansion of cultural sponsorships.

The path to closure

The art forum, which operates with around 50 employees and additional freelancers, has not only established itself as a presentation venue for contemporary art, but has also hosted well-known exhibitions in an international context. In 2020, the works of the American pop artist James Francis Gill under the title “Reflections” were very well received. The exhibition was themed “Women in Cars” and featured over 40 works that reflected the spirit of the times and featured a tasty color scheme typical of Gill’s style, as reported by Premium Modern Art is to be read.

But despite the commitment of artists and supporters - including former Federal President Heinz Fischer, who is campaigning for a longer transition period - the support does not seem to be enough to avert the closure. The rental agreement for the exhibition rooms expires at the end of the year and negotiations are underway regarding necessary structural investments. According to Bank Austria, millions of euros are required to implement the necessary improvements, which further complicates the situation.

A farewell of significance

The abrupt closure now stands in the way of an important exhibition. A planned major show on the performance artist Marina Abramović, which was scheduled for October 2023, will instead be presented at the Albertina Modern. The future of the Kunstforum remains uncertain, and the threatened closure is perceived not only as an economic loss, but also as a cultural disruption in the city of Vienna.

The next few months will show whether there will be a way out of this messy situation or whether the curtain will finally fall on one of Vienna's most famous exhibition venues.