Vienna's museums turn to German and foreign leaders in cultural shift
Vienna's cultural scene is seeing a shift as German and international candidates fill top museum roles. Recently, Max Hollein, director of New York's Metropolitan Museum, returned to his former hometown as a celebrated speaker. His visit highlighted ongoing changes in leadership across Austria's prestigious institutions.
Many of these positions now attract foreign applicants, with salaries often higher than those in Germany's own cultural sector.
Two of Vienna's most prominent museums—the Albertina and the Natural History Museum—are already led by German directors. Meanwhile, the Belvedere, once called the Austrian Gallery, and the National Library are currently searching for new leaders. Out of 27 applicants for the Belvedere's directorship, 18 come from abroad.
The trend extends beyond leadership. At the Institute of Art History, not a single tenured professor is Austrian—most hold German appointments. Even recent hires, like Fatimah Hellberg at Mumok and Jonathan Fine at the KHM, arrived via German institutions.
Higher pay plays a role in this shift. Top executives at Austria's independent museums earn significantly more than their counterparts under Germany's Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation. This has led German professionals to repeatedly seek positions in Vienna.
During his visit, Hollein addressed the challenges facing universal museums today. His insights come as Andreas Babler, the former mayor of Traiskirchen, prepares to decide the future of these institutions—or follow the search committee's recommendations.
The leadership changes reflect broader shifts in Vienna's cultural landscape. With foreign candidates dominating applications and salaries outpacing those in Germany, Austria's museums are increasingly led by international figures. The decisions ahead will shape how these institutions operate in the coming years.
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