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Kunstforum Wien closes: demolition of a cultural institution!
The Kunstforum Wien closes on August 31, 2025. The Marina Abramović exhibition will be shown at the ALBERTINA MODERN.
Kunstforum Wien closes: demolition of a cultural institution!
The Kunstforum Wien is facing a drastic change. Today, on June 11th, 2025, it was announced that new decisions about the future of the house and the exhibition operations will be necessary from autumn 2025. Due to the economic situation, UniCredit Bank Austria will cease its involvement as a museum operator at the end of 2025. As a result of these developments, the Kunstforum will give up its home on Freyung on August 31, 2025 and set off into an uncertain future. OTS reports that the last exhibitions at the old location will be on display until the end of June, before the anniversary show “MENSCH BERLIN” closes its doors on July 9th.
The reason for the imminent closure of the Kunstforum is directly related to the bankruptcy of the former sponsor Signa, which previously owned the building. The loss of financial support and the failed attempt to find new sponsors have made the situation for the art forum considerably more difficult. The cultural scene has already reacted with protests, including an open letter from well-known artists such as Erwin Wurm and VALIE EXPORT. They campaigned for the preservation of the art forum, although, as it now appears, without the desired success. SN has followed this development with concern.
The future of the art forum
In the midst of these changes, however, there is a ray of hope: ALBERTINA has agreed to present the exhibition of star performer Marina Abramović in cooperation with the Kunstforum. This will take place from October 10, 2025 to March 1, 2026 in the ALBERTINA MODERN. The Abramović show was originally scheduled for October 2, 2025 in the Kunstforum, but these plans had to be adjusted due to the closure in order to avoid penalty payments. OTS highlights that UniCredit Bank Austria continues to act as a sponsor of ALBERTINA and supports this step.
As for the art forum itself, work is underway to find a new concept and an alternative location. Detailed plans are expected to be published next fall. The employees and friends of the Kunstforum remain excited to see which direction things will go. Some of the cultural scene has already emphasized the need for a stronger network of cultural offerings and the integration of art into city life, as was recently discussed in a cultural discussion in the Wesermarsch Oldenburg Church.
It remains to be seen how the protagonists of the Viennese cultural scene will position themselves. With the challenges that lie ahead, there could be an opportunity for fresh impulses and new ideas. In any case, the Kunstforum Wien will leave an important gap and is faced with the task of writing a new chapter.