Museum Moderner Kunst Kärnten

About the museum

The Museum Moderner Kunst Kärnten is housed in the so-called Burg in the centre of Klagenfurt. The building was constructed in 1586 for a school for the Protestant nobility; after its closure during the Counter-Reformation it served from 1601 as the residence of the Carinthian Estates and the burgrave. After fires in 1636 and 1723 the building was rebuilt each time, and in 1733/34 the castle chapel was added on the north side. Under Maria Theresa the Burg became an office building of the sovereign administration and was the seat of the Landeshauptmann until 1918.

The building has been used as an art venue since 1933, when the Carinthian Landesgalerie, founded in 1928, opened its first galleries here. During the Nazi era the Gestapo set up its headquarters in the Burg, the gallery was closed and its collection was incorporated into the Reichsgau. After the war the State of Carinthia took over the holdings; in 1965 the Landesgalerie reopened in newly adapted rooms.

Following conversion and a general renovation of the Burg, the Museum Moderner Kunst Kärnten opened in 2003 in the expanded premises. It looks after the art collection of the State of Carinthia and the Artothek and, on around 1,000 square metres in 14 rooms, presents three to four temporary exhibitions a year – solo shows, thematic shows and collection shows. In addition there are projects in the Kunstraum Burgkapelle with its Baroque frescoes, a permanent sculpture display in the arcade walkway, and occasional exhibitions in the castle courtyard.

Highlights

• Three to four temporary exhibitions of modern and contemporary art each year
• Art collection of the State of Carinthia with regular collection shows
• Kunstraum Burgkapelle with frescoes by Josef Ferdinand Fromiller
• Permanent sculpture display in the arcade walkway
• Free admission on Thursday evenings ("After Work")

Permanent exhibition

• Skulpturenschau im Arkadengang – Permanent presentation of sculptures in the museum's arcade walkway, complementing the changing main exhibitions.

Founded

1965

Operated by

Land Kärnten

Director

Christine Wetzlinger-Grundnig

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission every Thursday 6–8 pm (except on public holidays)

Free admission with ICOM Card, Kärnten Card, Kulturpass and for members of BÖKWE and the Austrian Association of Art Historians. Concert tickets for the series "Klassik im Burghof" count as admission tickets on the day of the concert. Online tickets via Kärnten-Ticket.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum states that it is barrier-free; further details have not been published.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

Cre.Art.iv workshops for children with an exhibition tour followed by creative work in the open studio (€7 incl. materials, registration required). Family afternoons with an art educator, children free. Children's birthday parties from age 6 for up to 10 children with a choice of creative programmes.

Getting there & parking

The museum is located in Klagenfurt's city centre and can be reached by car and public transport.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Shop at the visitor service.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit