Heidi Goëss-Horten © Ouriel Morgensztern
“I am proud, with my collection and the construction of the museum, to have created something lasting, which future generations will also be able to experience when they visit my museum and take joy in the art that has given me such joy for so long.”
Heidi Goëss-Horten
Our Mission
The Heidi Horten Collection is a private museum in Vienna. Its purpose is to ensure the ongoing preservation and permanent presentation of the art collection of Heidi Goëss-Horten. The Heidi Horten Collection observes national and international ethical standards as it pursues its cultural and scholarly mission. Our mandate is to:
Heidi Horten Collection, photo: Rupert Steiner
Foto: Rupert Steiner, (c) Heidi Horten Collection
1 - EXHIBIT
The Heidi Horten Collection develops and organizes exhibitions in a variety of formats. The collection itself forms the cornerstone of all exhibition projects. Thus, Heidi Goëss-Horten's personal legacy is preserved through the Heidi Horten Collection. The exhibition program forms the institution's distinctive identity. Exhibitions are based on scholarly curatorial practice and design, and publications, lectures, discussion events, and other educational programs complement the exhibition activities.
2 - EDUCATE
The Heidi Horten Collection puts art education at the core of its mission. The modern and innovative work of art mediation, tailored to be audience-specific, addresses current artistic, scholarly, and social concerns. Emphasis is on equal participation, responses to contemporary issues, and the production of content relevant to the audience.
All art educators have a comprehensive understanding of art and cultural history and the ability to respond to the interests and needs of a diverse audience. They take a situational approach and consider themselves proactive partners in facilitating interactive communication. Their top priority is to be pen to the participants‘ expertise and to integrate that into their work in a respectful manner.
Both analog and digital programming target audiences with an interest in culture and other potential audiences. The museum's main objectives are to attract young people and to continue removing barriers for disadvantaged individuals. A studio and lecture hall are available for workshops and for other discursive, inclusive, and participatory formats. In addition, the museum aims to broaden its scope of action in the medium term to foster a direct dialogue with historically underserved groups by offering outreach services.
The Heidi Horten Collection will serve as a public place of encounter and personal enrichment – a place of well-being, critical inquiry, and active participation.
3 - COLLECT
The Heidi Horten Collection maintains, preserves, and exhibits the collection of Heidi Goëss-Horten. Originally, the collection was not meant for public display but to enrich the living environment of the collector’s private residence. The collection's core consists of artworks and objects that Heidi Goëss-Horten personally acquired. In this sense, the collection reflects the personal interests and preferences of the collector and represents, as the DNA of the museum, a piece of personal biography. The museum's mission is to augment and expand the core collection through international and contemporary acquisitions in the future.
4 - PRESERVE
The museum building housing the Heidi Horten Collection serves to preserve the collection of Heidi Goëss-Horten and facilitate its research. As a private foundation, the museum is entirely self-funded. To preserve the collection holdings, current museological, scientific, logistical, climatic, conservation, and restoration standards are maintained.
5 - RESEARCH
A team of scholars at the Heidi Horten Collection researches the holdings and resolves any issues that may arise. Positioning the collection within a scholarly context is a key endeavor of the institution, as is reflected in its exhibition program. In addition, provenance research is a significant area of interest, primarily as it relates to pre-1945 holdings but encompassing the entire collection. It requires networking with other national and international museums, universities, colleges, and research institutions such as archives and libraries to provide an objective perspective on the collection. The museum also includes an archive that houses records relevant to the collection and related proceedings. Finally, the Heidi Horten Collection disseminates its research results through publications and subject-specific media.
6 - DOCUMENT
The museum of the Heidi Horten Collection bears responsibility for the extensive collection and the preservation of these assets. The inventorying and cataloguing of holdings and acquisitions is governed by museum standards. A long-term goal is to make the collection accessible and enjoyable online, so that it may be accessed regardless of physical location. Part of the museum's international networking effort, it would also provide an additional dimension to the museum's educational outreach.
