Vienna Implements Austerity Drive with Museum Closures and Transport Hikes
Vienna, the Austrian capital renowned globally as a bastion of classical music, is enacting significant austerity measures that will see several cultural institutions close their doors and public transport costs surge. The director of the Wien Museum, Matti Bunzl, announced the closures on Wednesday, stating, "We all have to economise. That's the reality we live in." This move is part of a broader effort to meet public spending targets, impacting the city's rich cultural heritage.
Composer Museums Temporarily Shut
The cost-saving measures will temporarily close museums dedicated to some of Austria's most famous composers. Affected sites include the apartment where Franz Schubert died, the residence of Johann Strauss, composer of the "Blue Danube," and the house where Joseph Haydn lived. Schubert's birthplace will also close from 2 March, but for a redesign ahead of its 2028 reopening to mark the 200th anniversary of his death. According to finance director Christina Schwarz, these closures are expected to last two years, despite the museums being low-key establishments with minimal staffing costs.
Budget Reductions and Further Cuts
The city's cultural budget is being reduced from €29.7 million (£25.9 million) in 2025 to €28.4 million this year, with a further decrease planned for 2027. This includes cuts to the annual Vienna New Year's concert, a globally broadcast event by the Vienna Philharmonic. Additionally, several other museums will see reduced opening hours, such as the Prater Museum, Hermes Villa, and various Otto Wagner sites, including the Otto Wagner Church and pavilions in Hietzing and Karlsplatz.
Broader Austerity Impacts
Beyond cultural cuts, the austerity drive will increase public transport prices in Vienna by almost 30% for some tickets, adding financial pressure on residents and visitors. The far-right Freedom party (FPÖ) has criticised the measures for sparing the Wiener Festwochen, an arts festival with a political focus, while targeting composer museums. Vienna's cultural prominence, historically bolstered by Habsburg patronage and home to figures like Mozart, Beethoven, Gustav Klimt, and Egon Schiele, now faces a period of retrenchment as the city prioritises fiscal responsibility over cultural accessibility.
