The Mission Statement

The mission statement

The mission statement of the MuseumsQuartier Wien was developed in 1999 by MQ Errichtungs- und Betriebsgesellschaft (MQ E+B) together with all of the institutions based in the MQ at the time. The following wording was agreed:

The "MuseumsQuartier Wien" is part of a cultural "district" that extends from the Hofburg Palace in the city's historic center to Vienna's 7th District.

The MuseumsQuartier represents an attractive combination of independent new architecture and revitalized historic buildings. The urban strategy links the quarter with the city and redefines itself with clear and impressive structures. The architectural team Ortner & Ortner and architect Manfred Wehdorn created optimum spaces for art and spectacular places for visitors.

The MuseumsQuartier is home to numerous large, medium-sized, and small cultural facilities. It views itself as place for cultural diversity, experimentation, communication, and education, and continuous activity and change. As a living, contemporary art and cultural center, the MuseumsQuartier represents an expanded multidisciplinary understanding of culture.

The MuseumsQuartier guarantees diversity of content through its various facilities. The institutions represented in the MQ have diverse objectives and programs. They are not hierarchically organized and are autonomously managed and advertised. At the same time, the principle of "As much autonomy as possible, as many commonalities as necessary" ensures that facilities are shared to the extent necessary for the successful operation of the complex as a whole.

The divergent use profile of the individual institutions allows for an extraordinary, culturally oriented diversity of uses. The confederation promotes constructive confrontation and attractive competition while complementing the content of the individual institutions. Joint objectives and interests are coordinated and actively pursued. The content ranges from art of the 19th and 20th century to initiatives that anticipate future trends.

The coexistence of all these facilities characterizes the complex character of the MuseumsQuartier. The MQ is conceived as a shared venue with a shared identity, and its positioning in the market makes it a new paradigm for the creation, organization, operation, and marketing of museum and cultural landscapes.