Backlash: Eike Schmidt not going to Vienna, will he stay at Uffizi? Infuriated Austrian minister

The news is sensational: the director of the Uffizi Galleries, Eike D. Schmidt, has decided that he is not going to head the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna, as was his intention until not long ago. Schmidt had been designated in 2017 as the future director of the prestigious Viennese museum by Austria’s then culture minister, Thomas Drozda, and as early as November was expected to take over from director Sabine Haag. Austrian press organs speculate that the last-minute change of mind may be due to the fact that Italy may have negotiated with Schmidt to persuade him to stay on, probably offering him better terms than those in Austria. But nothing is known for certain at the moment, and it is not known whether the German art historian will remain at the Uffizi (although this is the most likely solution to the matter).

Meanwhile, the current minister of culture, Alexander Schallenberg, has gone on a rampage: “this last-minute afterthought,” he wrote in a note, “is really unprofessional and unprecedented. The Eike Schmidt chapter is closed. Now it is a matter of clearing it up quickly. And that is why we will organize an expression of interest as soon as possible.” The current director Sabine Haag, who has been in office for ten years (the term at the Kunstisthorisches is in fact five years), has been asked to continue leading the museum on an interim basis, since her term is expiring (moreover, Austrian media reports that Haag was strongly interested in having her term renewed, but Drozda’s choice had then fallen on Schmidt). It is then learned that Minister Schallenberg and the director of the Uffizi will meet on Friday to discuss what the Austrian government considers a “significant economic loss” due to the sudden cancellation.

It should also be noted, however, that at the Ministry of Culture and the Uffizi no one seems to be aware of Schmidt’s intentions: it appears that even his staff learned of his decision by reading Austrian newspapers. So, officially, there is still no reappointment from MiBAC for the next term, as there has been for other museum directors (the last of whom was James Bradburne at the Pinacoteca di Brera, who was reappointed a few days ago). It must be said, however, that in recent months Schmidt had never been forthright about his move to Vienna and on several occasions seemed likely to open up about his stay in Italy. All that remains, therefore, is to wait for what will happen in the coming hours.

Image: Eike Schmidt. Photo credit.

Backlash: Eike Schmidt not going to Vienna, will he stay at Uffizi? Infuriated Austrian minister

Warning: the translation into English of the original Italian article was created using automatic tools. We undertake to review all articles, but we do not guarantee the total absence of inaccuracies in the translation due to the program. You can find the original by clicking on the ITA button. If you find any mistake,please contact us.