Discover MAK - Museum of Applied Arts in Wien

The Imperial Royal Austrian Museum of Art and Industry, which is today's MAK, was founded by Emperor Franz Joseph I on March 7, 1863. Rudolf von Eitelberger, the first Professor of art history at the University of Vienna, was appointed as its director.

The museum initially opened on May 12, 1864, in provisional rooms within the Ballhaus building next to the Hofburg. These spaces were adapted for the museum's needs by architect Heinrich von Ferstel.

A new museum complex for the Imperial Royal Museum of Art and Industry was built at Stubenring 5 in the Neo-Renaissance style, based on plans by Heinrich von Ferstel. The museum opened to the public in this new building on November 15, 1871.

The museum complex, built from 1869, was designed by Heinrich von Ferstel in the Neo-Renaissance style. It was the first museum building constructed on the Vienna Ring Road.

An adjacent new building for the School of Applied Arts was constructed at Stubenring 3, also designed by Heinrich von Ferstel. This extension opened in 1877.

Following Austria's annexation by Nazi Germany, the museum was renamed 'Staatliches Kunstgewerbemuseum in Wien' (State Arts and Crafts Museum in Vienna). During this period, it also acquired confiscated private collections.

After suffering war-related damage, the museum was reopened in 1949 following necessary repairs. Earlier, in 1936 and 1940, parts of its sculpture collection had been transferred to the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

In the late 1980s, parts of the museum's façade were restored to their original state as part of a renovation. This period also saw a rearrangement of furniture and the clock collection in the Geymüllerschlössel branch.

A comprehensive renovation of the museum's older buildings commenced in 1989. This project also included the construction of a two-story underground depot and a new connecting wing to expand storage and exhibition space.

Following extensive renovation and the construction of new facilities, the museum reopened to the public in 1993. The showrooms were designed by various artists during this period.

In 2000, Austria's federal museums were removed from state administration. The MAK became a 'public-law academic institution' as part of this reform.

Since 2004, the building has been illuminated in the evenings by 'MAKlite,' a permanent outdoor installation by American artist James Turrell. This work is located on the museum's façade at Stubenring 5.

In 2015, the MAK became the first museum to utilize Bitcoin for an art acquisition, purchasing the work 'Event listeners' by Harm van den Dorpel.

The MAK initiated the Vienna Biennale in 2015, the first Biennale to combine art, design, and architecture. This event has been held periodically since its inception.

The MAK museum is oriented towards arts and crafts, design, and also emphasizes architecture and contemporary art. It presents the largest online collection among Austrian Federal Museums, with over 300,000 objects.

In 1907, the Museum of Art and Industry took over most of the collection belonging to the Royal Austrian Trade Museum, enriching its holdings.

Rudolf von Eitelberger, the first Professor of art history at the University of Vienna, was appointed as the museum's first director upon its founding in 1863.

Arthur von Scala took over as director in 1897, bringing prominent figures like Otto Wagner and Koloman Moser to work at the museum and its associated School of Arts and Crafts.

Following the establishment of the First Republic, holdings previously in the possession of the Habsburgs, such as oriental carpets, were transferred to the museum.

In 1936 and 1940, the Museum on Stubenring transferred part of its sculpture collection to the Kunsthistorisches Museum. In exchange, it received the arts and crafts section from the Albert Figdor collection and the Kunsthistorisches Museum.

In 1996, the MAK received the 'Museum of the Year Award' from the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, recognizing its contributions and standing.

In 1965, the Geymüllerschlössel in Vienna's 18th district was affiliated with the museum, becoming a new branch. The MAK also acquired Dr. Franz Sobek's clock collection and period furniture at this time.

The combat Flak Tower in Arenbergpark became an additional branch of the museum in 1994 and has served as the MAK Contemporary Art Depot (MAK Tower) since 1995, housing parts of the Contemporary Art Collection.

Since 2006, the MAK, in collaboration with the Moravian Gallery in Brno, has managed Josef Hoffmann's birthplace as a joint branch, the Josef Hoffmann Museum, presenting exhibitions on his work and contemporaries.

In 1994, Peter Noever founded the MAK Center for Art and Architecture in Los Angeles, USA, focusing on new trends and interdisciplinary developments in fine arts and architecture.

The MAK actively supports contemporary artists whose works are presented in the museum and then in Vienna's urban space, mediating at the interface between art and the public realm. Several international artists have been represented through these initiatives.

In 2014, the Permanent Collection Carpets was repositioned with an artistic intervention by Füsun Onur. The Permanent Collection Asia also saw repositioning in 2014 and 2016, with artistic design by Tadashi Kawamata.

In September 2021, Lilli Hollein was appointed General Director and Artistic Director, marking the first time a woman has held this leadership position in the MAK's history.

Painter Ferdinand Laufberger created a sgraffito frieze and fresco paintings on the staircase's mirror vault for the museum's building. The outer façade's figures were recreated by students around 1893 after the original cartoons were lost.

An extension building located at Weiskirchnerstraße 3 was designed by Ludwig Baumann for the museum. This extension was completed in 1908.