About Depot

Depot is a space for current debates at the interface of art, society and science. We organize over 100 discussions, lectures, conferences and workshops per year with free admission. The integrated Café offers a place to linger, network and get together.

Depot – Kunst und Diskussion was founded in 1994 by the then federal curator Stella Rollig as a non-profit association on the site of today’s Museumsquartier and established together with artists, critics and curators. Similar institutions based on the concept of Depot were established in other cities such as Hamburg, Stuttgart, Berlin and New York.

In 1997, Wolfgang Zinggl took over as the new federal curator. Since then, civil society networking and solidarity with various socio-political initiatives have been an important part of Depot. For instance, the founding meetings of Verband feministischer Wissenschafteri*nnen, Attac Österreich and IG Architektur were held at Depot. The magazine MALMOE and Radio ORANGE 94.0 also had their debut presentations at Depot.

Since the beginning of the coalition between ÖVP and FPÖ in 2000, Depot had to be closed several times due to a lack of funding and could only be kept alive by a solidarity program of around thirty institutions – including Amnesty International, Der Standard, University of Arts Linz, Literaturhaus Wien, SOHO Ottakring and the Viennale – as well as voluntary work by the dismissed employees. The precarious situation continued for many more years. In 2001, Depot moved to Breite Gasse 3 in Vienna-Neubau. Martina Reuter took over the management of Depot in 2005, which she handed over to Sara van Dordrecht in 2021.

The program continues to take into account the constantly changing notion of art and questions the social framework conditions of art. Following its interdisciplinary approach, Depot focuses not only on fine art but also on socially relevant fields such as anti-racism, dis_ability, remembrance culture, feminism, gender and queer studies, classism, cultural politics, media, sustainability, post-colonialism and technology criticism.

Participation is the central element of the concept of Depot, which is implemented in various ways. The spectrum of events ranges from talks, lecture series and panel discussions to workshops as well as constantly newly developed event formats.

Accessibility information

The café and the event room of the Depot are accessible by means of a threshold ramp (door clearance: 74 cm). Alternatively, the wider, step-free entrance of the residential building Breite Gasse 3 can be used. Please ring the bell on the facade so that we open the door for you.

Unfortunately, our toilets are not barrier-free. Approximately 50 meters from Depot there are barrier-free toilets available.

Hearing aids can be connected directly to the sound system using a jack plug (3.5 mm). Please contact us in advance if possible. We are also happy to find individual solutions.