The Museumsquartier (MQ) is a 60,000 m² large area in the 7th district of the city of Vienna, Austria, and after it was completed it is now the eighth largest cultural area in the world with Baroque buildings as well as Modern architecture by the architects Laurids and Manfred Ortner (Ortner & Ortner). The renovation of the former court stables began in April 1998. Three years later, the Museumsquartier opened in two stages (June and September 2001). The construction cost two billion euro.

There was a negative media reaction after it became known that the expensive public buildings had serious flaws regarding barrier-free wheelchair accessibility. Not even the recently constructed buildings (Kunsthalle, MUMOK and Leopold Museum) were able to fulfill even their most basic demands. After many negative reports across the media, and the resolute commitment of handicapped interest groups, the majority of the shortcomings were repaired in the following years.

Another contentious point regarding the initiatives and museums that were included in the area of the MQ is the Public Netbase, a critical institution for new cultural technology. Originally located in a part of the MQ, it had to leave for renovation. but after the construction finished, it was not able to return to its former premises because there was no settlement anymore. And thus the Public Netplace had to find a new location.

The spectrum ranges from large art museums like the Leopold Museum and the MUMOK (Museum of Modern Art Ludwig Foundation Vienna) to contemporary exhibition spaces like the KUNSTHALLE Wien and festivals like the Wiener Festwochen, an annual summer event this is headquartered in the MuseumsQuartier Wien. Additional highlights include the TanzQuartier , an international, state-of-the-art center for dance, the Architektur Zentrum Wien, production studios for new media, artist studios for artists-in-residence, outstanding art and cultural facilities designed for children, and a variety of other events and festivals such as the renowned Viennale film festival, the ImPulsTanz Festival , and many others. Quartier21 is a part of Museumsquartier featuring different alternative art groups (e.g. monochrom and 5uper.net ).

External links

• Museumsquartier Wien - Main Page
• Architekturzentrum Wien (architectural center)
• Tanzquartier Wien (dance quarter)
• Kunsthalle
• Museum der Stiftung Leopold im MQ
• MUMOK Museum moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien (Museum of Modern Art)
• Hallen E+G (event places)
• ZOOM Kindermuseum (museum for children)
• Quartier 21
• Artist Group monochrom
• Artist Group 5uper.net
• cyber liberties group quintessenz