STATE COLLECTIONS OF LOWER AUSTRIA

The Department of Arts and Culture of the Office of the Lower Austrian Federal Government is responsible for a unique collection of six million museum objects pertaining to the cultural and natural history of Lower Austria. The State Collections of Lower Austria ensure that its holdings are developed further, disseminating and recording insights and knowledge about this heritage.

HISTORY and MISSION
The history of the State Collections of Lower Austria is closely linked with the more than one-hundred-year-old history of the Landesmuseum Niederösterreich. In 1904, Max Vancsa determined the basic tendencies of this institution. The State Collections’ scope, their orientation, and the diversity of their exhibits reflect the museum’s varied history. The State Collections of Lower Austria document the past and the present. They preserve objects to ensure their continued existence, using them for research and exhibition purposes. They impart insights and knowledge about the collections to the public in myriad publications and exhibitions.

COLLECTION STRATEGY
Comprised of twelve departments, the State Collections include the fields of cultural history, archeology, art, and nature. The collections’ main focus is the Federal Province of Lower Austria, its culture and nature. Donations, acquisitions, archeological excavations, and bequests considerably expand and amplify their holdings.

RESEARCH
Scholarly research projects aim to gain information on and new insights into the museum collections. Close contact with scientific institutions, especially collaborations with the Center for Collections Management at Danube University Krems, support this strategy.

LOCATIONS
The State Collections’ comprehensive and materially highly diverse collection holdings, comprising more than six million objects, are stored, reviewed, and exhibited in various locations all over Lower Austria.