Museum impresario Klaus Albrecht Schröder has taken on a new role as managing director of the Vienna Actionism Museum (WAM) after leading the prestigious Albertina museum for a quarter-century. Known for his theatrical presentations and ambitious vision, Schröder is already planning major expansions for the newly established institution dedicated to Vienna's radical art movement.
Schröder draws a striking parallel between his former position at the Albertina and his new role at WAM. When he first took over the Albertina, both museums had fewer than 10,000 visitors annually. After 25 years under his leadership, the Albertina now attracts 1.3 million visitors per year. While WAM, which opened last year as a private initiative in a historic building in Vienna's city center, won't compete in the same league, Schröder is already envisioning significant growth.
The new managing director has ambitious expansion plans for the museum, which showcases works by Vienna Actionism protagonists Hermann Nitsch, Günter Brus, Otto Muehl, and Rudolf Schwarzkogler. His first major project involves a renovation that would nearly quadruple the exhibition space available for displaying the controversial movement's artworks. True to his hands-on approach, Schröder revealed at a recent media event that he doesn't need an architect for the project – a master builder will suffice.
Schröder's confidence in designing the spaces himself stems from his experience at the Albertina, where he personally designed the exhibition rooms. During the press conference, he disclosed that he had originally wanted to become an architect, a dream that now manifests in his museum design work. His approach reflects the same bold, action-oriented spirit that characterizes the Vienna Actionist movement the museum celebrates, suggesting that under his leadership, WAM may become as transformative a cultural institution as the Albertina became during his tenure.
