IG Bildende Kunst is organizing
a protest in front of the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna (KHM) to demand free admission for professional visual artists holding
an IAA card. The background to this protest is the museum’s continued refusal to recognize the International Association
of Art (IAA) artist ID, thereby making access to the museum more difficult for practicing artists.
IG
Bildende Kunst Statement:
Why This Matters- The exclusion of the IAA card since 2022 has
not been accompanied by any comprehensible explanation and weakens the professional standing of artists.
- Admission
prices can constitute a real barrier for many artists, who often work under precarious economic conditions.
- Recognizing
the IAA card would be a clear commitment to valuing artistic production and to acknowledging the importance of contemporary
artists for cultural exchange and societal development.
Demands- Reintroduction of free admission
for professional artists with an IAA card: Artists are not leisure visitors but active participants in artistic production
and cultural exchange.
- Recognition of the IAA card as an international cultural document: The IAA card is a globally
recognized sign of professional artistic activity and is already accepted in over 100 countries and by hundreds of museums.
- Recognition
of the IAA card as a contribution to artistic development and education: Access to museum collections and exhibitions is essential
for professional learning, contextualization, and the further development of artistic practice.
- Fair and respectful
treatment of visual artists by cultural institutions: Museums with an educational mission should enable professional artists
to access their institutions—without financial barriers that represent real obstacles for many artists living in precarious
conditions.
- Solidarity with international standards of recognition: Maintaining restrictive admission policies contradicts
international practice and the role of museums as places of open exchange and support for contemporary art.
Performance
Das
letzte Hemd (The final shirt): Please bring scissors and a shirt for the performance part of the protest.
More
information on the protest:
Website
IG Bildende Kunst
