Jonathan High-quality, an American artwork historian who has served as scientific director of the Weltmuseum in Vienna since July 2021, has been chosen to succeed Sabine Haag as basic director of town’s Kunsthistorisches Museumsverband, overseeing three main Viennese museums.
From 1 January 2025, High-quality can be liable for the Kunsthistorisches Museum, the Weltmuseum and the Austrian Theatre Museum. A five-member choice committee selected him from 20 candidates, based on a press launch from the Austrian Ministry of Tradition.
“Jonathan High-quality has satisfied me that he doesn’t simply perceive the burning points museums face as we speak, but additionally desires to confront them,” Andrea Mayer, the tradition minister, stated in an announcement. “He stands for a completely trendy idea of a museum that addresses social questions with out neglecting its basic duties.”
High-quality led an professional fee that final week offered suggestions to the Austrian authorities on organising a restitutions committee to deal with claims for objects in nationwide museums acquired in a colonial context. Earlier than becoming a member of the Weltmuseum, he served as head of collections at Berlin’s Ethnology Museum. His space of experience is African artwork.
Earlier than turning into an artwork historian, High-quality practised as a lawyer focussed on worldwide business disputes, constitutional regulation and human rights.
