Panel Discussion: Corporate Collections as a Cultural Task

Corporate art collections in Austria have gained an impressive reputation over the past few decades, especially when they achieve a permanent public status through their own museum buildings. A panel discussion will focus on the public significance of corporate collections. In light of budget cuts in the public sector and the dramatically increased values of contemporary art in recent decades, the question will be discussed to what extent these collections can and should be seen as a complement or extension of state collections. What is the self-understanding of corporate collections? In what ways can art be identity-forming as a public self-understanding? Is art primarily an explicit investment? Would a cooperative approach with the public sector be worth considering, particularly regarding greater tax deductibility? What might such a Public-Private Partnership look like, especially concerning the significance of corporate collections for cultural heritage in general?

Discussion participants:
Christiane Flehberger, Managing Director Raiffeisenlandesbank NÖ-Wien
Arch. DI. Sebastian Haselsteiner, Collection Art Strabag
KR Heinz J. Angerlehner, Museum Angerlehner
Sandra Nikusev, MA, Stonehage Art Management, London
Mag. Wolf-Dietrich Schneeweiss, Entrepreneur
Dr. Erhard F. Grossnigg, Entrepreneur

Moderation: Prof. Mag. Carl Aigner