Queer Art and Cultural Education at the QMV

Art and cultural education are central to the work of the Queer Museum Vienna (QMV). The goal is not only to make contemporary art accessible but also to communicate the museum’s background and its political concerns. This involves queer history, identity, and the role of art as a means of social reflection and change.

Critical Art Education

Critical art education adopts a socially critical perspective. It questions power structures and the dynamics of inclusion and exclusion, and encourages engagement with topics such as social inequalities and the construction of gender and ethnicity.

Queer art education complements this approach by challenging existing norms and power relations. In this way, art is not only viewed but used as an active contribution to social change.

QMV is working towards inclusive art education that is as accessible as possible. We aim to offer educational programs that are open to everyone, regardless of prior knowledge or social background, presented in simple language and free of entry. The goal is to enable cultural participation and strengthen solidarity. You can find information about accessibility here.

Current Programs

For schools:

In many countries, educational content on LGBTQIA+ topics is increasingly being banned. In Austria, too, there is resistance from conservative, right-wing populist, and far-right forces against inclusive language and educational content. The QMV aims to counteract this and provide knowledge that is often not included in school curricula. For school groups, we offer workshops and guided tours of the current exhibition, which can be adapted to the class’s specific needs. Examples of questions we can discuss together in the workshop: Were there queer people in the past, or is this a more recent development? What does the term “queer” actually mean, and how does all of this relate to me? How do artists address these topics in their work?

Practical and creative exercises can also be integrated into the workshop (depending on the desired length). 

For all interested visitors: 

We offer public programs for all visitors, such as public tours with coffee and cake, multilingual tours, or workshops. Information on these can be found under “Projects” or “Events,” in our newsletter, and on our social media accounts. 

Groups are welcome to contact us with requests for tours and workshops at: education@queermuseumvienna.com. Guided tours and workshops are free; donations are welcome. Kindly let us know if a budget (e.g., from a school or organization) is available – the QMV operates with limited resources and relies primarily on the volunteer efforts of the collective’s members. Booked workshops/tours can be canceled up to one day in advance; otherwise, we charge a compensation fee of €100.