Museum of Applied Arts, Vienna

The Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) in Vienna is the Austrian museum for applied arts, design and decorative arts with roots in the 19th century. Its collections cover historic furniture, glass, ceramics, metalwork and textile arts alongside contemporary design and architecture projects.

The institution presents permanent displays of decorative arts and rotating temporary exhibitions that place historical objects in dialogue with modern design. Highlights often include Viennese Secession and Wiener Werkstätte objects alongside European applied-art traditions.

The MAK traces its origins to a 19th-century initiative to promote arts and industry and has evolved into a museum that balances historic collections with contemporary design commissions and exhibitions.

The museum is located on Vienna’s Ring Road close to the city’s central museums and cultural institutions, making it accessible from the inner city.

• Foundation and focus: Founded as a state museum of applied arts in the 19th century, it combines historic collections with contemporary design programming.

What to See #

• Permanent collections: Permanent and rotating displays of applied arts, including historic furniture, glass and metalwork spanning several centuries and periods of European design.
• Temporary exhibitions: Temporary exhibitions and contemporary design shows that augment the historic holdings with modern applied-art and design practice.