Agnes Husslein-Arco accused of embezzlement at Belvedere Vienna
Agnes Husslein-Arco, director of the Belvedere museum complex in Vienna, has been accused of using public funds for private purposes. The allegations, involving relatively small sums, emerged from internal rivalries and coincide with the upcoming end of her mandate and a restructuring of the museum's leadership. Unlike previous cases at the MAK and Kunsthalle Wien, where directors Peter Noever and Gerald Matt were immediately dismissed and investigated, Husslein-Arco was initially allowed to remain. However, under public pressure, the Austrian culture ministry appointed Dieter Bogner as interim financial director and announced a decision on the museum's management by July 2016.
Key facts
- Agnes Husslein-Arco is director of the Belvedere museum complex in Vienna.
- She is accused of private use of public money disguised as management expenses.
- The sums involved are not huge.
- The case was triggered by internal rivalries and ambitions.
- Her mandate is set to expire at the end of the year.
- The culture ministry is restructuring the director role, creating a deputy for economic-administrative tasks.
- Previous directors Peter Noever (MAK) and Gerald Matt (Kunsthalle Wien) were fired and investigated for similar accusations.
- Dieter Bogner was appointed interim financial director of the Belvedere.
- A decision on the museum's management will be made by July 2016.
Entities
Artists
- Ai Weiwei
- Agnes Husslein-Arco
- Peter Noever
- Gerald Matt
- Dieter Bogner
- Franco Veremondi
Institutions
- Belvedere
- 21er Haus
- Palazzo d’Inverno del principe Eugenio di Savoia
- MAK
- Kunsthalle Wien
- Artribune
Locations
- Vienna
- Austria