Wimmer’s Weekly

Stories from Austria, a small country (but not in the eyes of some protagonists)

Lately there has been much public attention on two cases of bad governance. On the one hand, the breakdown of a regional…

“Austria as the experimental station of the end of the world” (Karl Kraus)

Christkind is giving Austria a new government. Right before Christmas, the Austrian President has inaugurated the coalition…

The case of Venezuela – on the political and musical perspective

There were not many media reports on the fact that the US is denying the Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduras the right to…

Why arts education has to deal with the European crisis

“At a time when global resources and economies tighten, arts and cultural education has a role in re-inventing, re-visioning,…

“Truth is concrete“(Bert Brecht)

A few days ago I was invited to a workshop on „Culture work in an international context“ at the University of Music and…

Another kind of audience research: may, or should proles visit the Musikverein Vienna?

The Society of Friends of Music as main supporter of the Musikverein is celebrating its 200th anniversary. Just at the end…

Outland, the arts and social change

The holiday season is over, and back on our office desks we are trying to get organized. Some travel experiences however…

A new Renaissance is possible

Recently I came across the book “The Swerve: How the World Became Modern”.  In this book, Stephen Greenblatt, Professor…

Europe: to be cultural or not be

The political scientist Anton Pelinka stated in the context of the presentation of his book Europa – Ein Plädoyer that…