Art-related Commissions :

Viennese Restitution Commission (Wiener Rückstellungskommission)

Title
Viennese Restitution Commission (Wiener Rückstellungskommission)

Description
The Viennese Restitution Commission was set up by the Viennese City Council's Resolution of 29 April 1999. Its role is to issue recommendations to the City Administration (Magistrat) regarding the restitution of cultural property to former owners or their heirs.

The research reports and documentation produced by both the Museums of the City of Vienna and the Municipal and Provincial Library of Vienna are submitted to the Restitution Commission via the current Municipal Councillor for Cultural Affairs and Science. A copy also goes to the City Administration's Provincial Manager for Restitution Issues, Dr. Kurt Scholz. After considering the research reports, the Restitution Commission communicates its recommendations to the Municipal Councillor for Cultural Affairs and Science, who then issues instructions to the municipal collections.

The Restitution Commission has five members and five deputy members who represent the following professions and areas of expertise: the legal profession, the notarial profession, history and art history of Vienna, contemporary history, City Administration experts in civil and criminal law issues. Commission members are put forward by the Municipal Councillor for Cultural Affairs and Science and appointed and recalled by the Mayor. Appointments are for two years and can be renewed. In addition to its members, the Commission can consult external experts, especially from the Museums of the City of Vienna and the Vienna Municipal and Provincial Library.

An administrative office for the Commission was created in Department 10 (Museums of the City of Vienna) of the City Administration, and is based at the Historical Museum in Vienna. Queries can be addressed to the office in writing.

Contact Details
Susanne Winkler
Geschäftsstelle der Wiener Rückstellungskommission
Historisches Museum Wien
A-1040 Karlsplatz
Tel: +43 (0)1 5058747 84015/ 84043
Fax: +43 (0)1 5058747 7201
Email: post@m10.magwien.gv.at

Source
'Beschluss des Gemeinderats der Bundeshauptstadt Wien vom 29 April 1999' (Resolution of the Vienna Municipal Council of 29 April 1999), in Museen der Stadt Wien/ Wiener Stadt- und Landesbibliothek, Die Restitution von Kunst- und Kulturgegenständen im Bereich der Stadt Wien 1998 - 2001 (Museen der Stadt Wien, 2002), 154

Museen der Stadt Wien/ Wiener Stadt- und Landesbibliothek, Die Restitution von Kunst- und Kulturgegenständen im Bereich der Stadt Wien 1998 - 2001 (Museen der Stadt Wien, 2002)

Viennese Restitution Report 2002
http://www.museum.vienna.at/images/Restitutionsbericht2002.pdf , first accessed 25 March 2002.  Link updated 19 July 2007.