Kunsthalle Wien's WHW Collective Loses Contract After City Criticizes Programming

The curatorial collective WHW (Ivet Ćurlin, Nataša Ilić, and Sabina Sabolović) saw their contracts at Kunsthalle Wien not renewed in June 2024 following Vienna city officials' reassessment of the institution's direction. City Hall reportedly objected to an exhibition program that lacked tourist-friendly attractions and cited poor visitor numbers, though WHW's tenure overlapped with the pandemic period. Their programming included 2024 solo shows by tech-focused sculptor Aleksandra Domanović and experimental filmmaker Diego Marcon. The termination prompted one board member to resign. As a farewell gesture, WHW left behind a 62-meter mural by Nora Turato reading 'Aaaaaaaa…!!!!!!'—the inaugural piece of an annual public art commission they established. The collective now focuses on preparing for their role as first female curators of Skulptur Projekte Münster in 2027, an appointment announced in August. WHW comprises four members total, including Ana Dević, though only three were directly involved in directing Kunsthalle Wien.