Record Year for the KHM in Vienna - Preparations for Major Renovation

The Kunsthistorisches Museum and the entire KHM museum association are heading towards a record year - both in terms of visitor interest and economic figures, as General Director Jonathan Fine expressed on Monday. With this success as a backdrop, preparations are underway at the main site for the renovation starting in 2027, aimed at improving accessibility and security. Therefore, two of the three highlight exhibitions next year will take place outside the main building.

Joy over "most successful year in KHM history"

Although definitive numbers are only available for the first three quarters of the year, Fine spoke at a press conference about the "most successful year in the history of the KHM". According to Managing Director Paul Frey, the exhibition institution on the Ring alone counted around 800,000 guests by the end of September - a fifth more than in 2024. In the World Museum, which is also part of the association, there were 130,000 interested visitors in the same period (an increase of 11 percent), and the Theater Museum even increased by a quarter to 40,000 visitors. "We had stronger dynamics in the association than other major museums," emphasized Frey. The positive trend will continue to strengthen towards the end of the year, he pointed to the very successful current exhibition on Michaelina Wautier.

The economic situation also developed "favorably". Frey expects that the KHM locations will achieve a self-sufficiency rate of 55 percent this year - a "considerable share", according to the Managing Director. Entrance fees alone brought in 17.6 million euros in the first nine months, significantly exceeding the value of the same period last year. The downside: The infrastructure of the house and the service staff are increasingly reaching their limits. Frey spoke of "tension". The construction project presented in the spring, which will provide the KHM with barrier-free access by 2028 and help to disperse visitor flows thanks to new spaces, is expected to bring relief.

"Canaletto & Bellotto" dominate the main building in spring

The upcoming exhibition year is already marked by construction preparations. For two of the three highlight exhibitions, alternative KHM locations will be used. "The renovation is coming in 2027, and there are lead times," explained Fine. However, the major spring exhibition will still take place at Maria-Theresien-Platz. "Canaletto & Bellotto" focuses on the different perspectives of uncle and nephew on the city in the 18th century. The presentation of the two painters, starting on March 24, is expected to be "sensational" and "fantastic", according to the host, as the London Wallace Collection is also on board: "There will be works on display that have never traveled before."

"Crime Scene Ephesos" Moves to the Neue Burg, "Bernini" to the Palais Lobkowitz

In "Crime Scene Ephesos" (from October 20, 2026), a joint project of the Ancient and Egyptian Collection, the exciting story of the major players of the era is told, starting from the murder of Cleopatra's sister Arsinoë in Ephesos - including Caesar and Mark Antony on one side and Augustus on the other. For this, the Corps de Logis in the Neue Burg, which is usually only used by the Weltmuseum, is utilized. And "Bernini. Painting and Marble" can be seen from December 2, 2026, in the Palais Lobkowitz. The location of the Theater Museum, currently closed for renovations, will then be available again. At the center of the "small but spectacular exhibition" is a previously unknown portrait that the KHM discovered in its own collection and, according to recent research, comes from the hand of the Baroque artist, as Fine proudly announced. Gian Lorenzo Bernini is best known for his sculptures and as the designer of St. Peter's Square in Rome.

About Half of the Construction Costs Go to Security

Regarding the renovation project itself, Managing Director Frey assured that they are "fully on schedule and budget." However, due to budget cuts from the federal government, the financing structure of the project, which costs around 42 million euros, had to be changed, as the KHM already announced in the summer. Frey now explained that the association is, in a sense, advancing and covering the planning and preparation costs totaling 7.4 million euros. "Parallel discussions about the financing of the implementation from 2027 are currently underway," said Frey. The federal government had originally promised 35 million euros. He remains "very confident" about this, as the managing director stated to the APA. A decision on further financing must be made by next fall.

Fine emphasized the necessity of the measures at the press conference - not least with reference to the Louvre break-in: "25 of the 42 million euros will go into the area of security." Investments should not be postponed. The general director had to point out the need for action in the collection, not least due to current events - during the presentation of the annual program, plaster repeatedly fell from the ceiling of the Bassano Hall onto the director's documents.

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.