Vision and Resistance

The MuseumsQuartier Wien—the Second Republic’s largest cultural construction project—has polarized public opinion like few others, while at the same time transforming the city of Vienna. On the occasion of its 25th anniversary, the MQ looks back on its success story.
The path to becoming Europe’s largest arts and culture complex was fraught with conflict, marked by discussions, political shifts, and media debates that went far beyond questions of architecture. What many Viennese take for granted today was, for a long time, in danger of failing due to bickering.

The exhibition “Vision and Resistance – How the MuseumsQuartier Changed Vienna,” on view in the MQ Freiraum, tells the story of the MQ: from bold designs and bitter debates to a project that repeatedly teetered on the brink of failure. Through sketches, original architectural models, plans, historical documents, and newspaper headlines, it illustrates the decades-long controversies and demonstrates that the MQ was never intended to be “finished,” either in terms of its content or its architecture. The Reading Tower, which once spearheaded public discussions, is once again taking center stage.

Opening: June 30, 2026