The history of the house
Opening
KUNST HAUS WIEN houses the only permanent presentation of Friedensreich Hundertwasser's work worldwide. His philosophy, his contribution to painting, graphic arts, ecology and architecture. Also his early work, tapestry as well as various models of completed and anticipated projects.
Furthermore, KUNST HAUS WIEN has so far shown more than 60 international exhibitions since 1991. Their realization became possible due to contacts with museum directors, museums, art historians and curators all over the world in cooperation with the team of KUNST HAUS WIEN.
KUNST HAUS WIEN, open daily (also on Saturday, Sunday and holidays) from 10 am to 7 pm, had secured its firm position among the established museums in Vienna within a very short time. The visitors from Austria as well as from abroad have expressed a very positive opinion on their experience in the KUNST HAUS WIEN. However, the local as well as the international press have certainly contributed to the great success of the "KunstHaus" by their enormous attention.
Another big success, with its meanwhile innumerable regular guests, is the CaféRestaurant "Dunkelbunt"; with its garden paradise and internationally noted flower arrangements, it could establish its position within a very short time.
Furthermore, KUNST HAUS WIEN and the KUNST HAUS WIEN CaféRestaurant have been pioneers as an unusual and high-class venue for events like press conferences, product presentations, fashion shows, company events, private celebrations etc, and are meanwhile a firm location of Vienna's event scene.
Wien Holding takes over KUNST HAUS WIEN
On 1 October 2007 after founding director Joram Harel's farewell, Wien Holding took over KUNST HAUS WIEN. Thus it ensures the house's future in the long term, as an important factor for Vienna's cultural life and its tourism economy.KUNST HAUS WIEN is a successful cultural enterprise with an influence far beyond Austria's border, an important facet of Austria's cultural offer. The preservation, continuation and maintenance of the nationally and internationally well-known KUNST HAUS WIEN and its existence ought not to be linked with his person's fate, therefore Joram Harel, Friedrich Hundertwasser's manager, fellow-traveller, advisor and friend transferred his shares of KUNST HAUS WIEN to the Wien Holding.
By taking over 100 percent of the shares of the Museum Betriebsgesellschaft, the cultural portfolio of Wien Holding is being strengthened with a long-term effect. Wien Holding will manage the KUNST HAUS WIEN as successfully as the concern's whole cultural group, currently consisting of the Vereinigte Bühnen Wien (Vienna's theatre association) with the venues Theater an der Wien, Raimund Theater and Ronacher, furthermore the Wiener Stadthalle, the Mozarthaus Vienna, which was started successfully in 2006, the Haus der Musik (House of Music) as well as the Jewish Museum Vienna. Adding all enterprises of the cultural cluster, they attract a total of more than 3.5 million visitors per year.
Since its foundation, KUNST HAUS WIEN has evolved into an internationally recognized institution. Due to this excellent reputation it has been possible to bring three big international exhibitions to Vienna each year. The concept of revolving exhibitions, which has been so successful with the Viennese audience, will be continued in future as well.
