Art and the Art Market

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Around 420 museums, 32 exhibition halls, 92 modern art galleries, 70 festivals, 19 art and antiques fairs all enrich the cutural nation that is Austria. The dense network of art events and institutions provides the multi-faceted and creative dynamic of the Austrian art scene.

Content:

Tradition and Innovation

Art and culture still play a key role in Austria, also in economic terms. Austria as a land of culture is the central advertising theme for tourism, underlined by the richness of the cultural heritage.

Austrian artwork represents the ability to bring the traditional into the present using complementary methods and to exploit inconsistencies to create a productive interplay. The spiritual tradition of the country - above all in literature, music, fine art and philosophy - contribute to this phenomenon.

"For every time its art, for art its freedom"

This saying can be found above the entrance to the Vienna Secession, one of the most significant artists' associations and exhibition venues for contemporary art. The independent organisation of artists among themselves and their discussion-based democratic process have a tradition in this country, as does the radical avantgarde. Historical examples of these stretch from the Secessionist movement to Gustav Klimt, through to the Vienna Group and Viennese Actionism.

Next: Structure and Institutions

Author Doris Rothauer / Büro für Transfer

Last Modified 8. July 2008