Universalmuseum Joanneum Gmbh

Our Mission

The Universalmuseum Joanneum is Austria’s oldest and second-largest museum. It was founded in 1811 by Archduke Johann of Styria with the mission of collecting, researching and passing on evidence of the nature, art and culture of the province, in order to promote actively the intellectual and technological development of Styria.

Today we are part of the international museum community and act according to the Ethical Guidelines of ICOM. We collect, preserve, research, interpret and present in order to give our visitors access to knowledge of the past and present, but also to the chances and challenges the future holds. Moreover, visitors are to be inspired to new ideas, and to engage critically with socially relevant themes.

We manage 14 locations in which culture, history, art, technology and nature can be experienced. In so doing, we also leave the museum premises and go out to people with our content in order to reach new communities and awaken their enthusiasm for our museums. With our participatory approach, we invite everyone to take part in our programme and to enrich this with new initiatives.

We see our staff as the most important factor in our success. For this reason, we place great value on promoting the motivation and satisfaction of our staff. Sustainable action is one of the fundamental guidelines of our work.

As the most often visited cultural institution in the Province of Styria, we serve the public, shape the image of Styrian culture, and enrich people’s quality of life. Through our international projects and cooperations we position ourselves as an important partner in the European museum landscape and rank alongside renowned multi-disciplinary museums worldwide.

Our Vision

With our art, cultural and scientific collections, wide range of expertise and programme offerings, we are becoming an indispensable repository of knowledge and an essential centre of excellence internationally. We have established research in the museum as an important source of innovation.

By strengthening internal and external interdisciplinary networking, we combine in-depth knowledge with open discourse on current topics, creating unique experiences. We are becoming one of the most important multi-disciplinary museums in Europe, thus contributing to a stronger positioning of Styria internationally.