The Bruno Kreisky Forum

The themes of the 20th century, which Bruno Kreisky and his generation – democracy, education, equality, social justice, European security, the North-South dialogue/dialogue with the Global South, and particularly peace in the Middle East – remain challenges of the 21st century and thus form the focus of our work:

1. International Politics, Europe and Security
2. Democracy, Diversity and Social Cohesion
3. Work, Economy and Social Affairs
4. Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding
5. History, Education and Science

We consider the following cross-cutting issues in all areas: Human rights, equal treatment, anti-discrimination, promotion and motivation of young generations, environmental protection and climate, technology and digitalisation impacts.

What we stand for
 
Reform and change in society for the better come about through science and personal development, through the exchange of information, communication and co-operation in the awareness that local and global developments, and thus also the responsibility of our actions, cannot be separated from each other.

The „Bruno Kreisky Method"“, as we call it, is based on Kreisky's interest and his ability to understand different perspectives and bring opposing positions to the table: from Austria, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Global South. This is – especially in times of increasing polarisation – not a matter of course.

We work according to the principle Speaking-acting-creating-moving in dialogue.

„It all began on the evening of 7 August 1990, after Bruno Kreisky's funeral, political companions, friends and colleagues gathered at Armbrustergasse 15 - the Kreisky family home - for a farewell reception. Memories were exchanged about conversations with Kreisky, encounters in this house and it was suddenly the opinion of many that it should be preserved as a place of encounter, that the atmosphere and the „spirit!“ that can still be felt here should be utilised. The fact that Federal Chancellor Franz Vranitzky had taken over the presidency lent the Forum great importance both at home and abroad,“ recalls Margit Schmidt, one of Bruno Kreisky's closest colleagues and the first Secretary General of the Bruno Kreisky Forum

The house of this important and internationally best-known Austrian Chancellor and Foreign Minister became a place for the continuation of the „Kreisky method“ during the more than 30 years of the first presidency of former Federal Chancellor Franz Vranitzky until 2004, and the second of former Federal Minister Rudolf Scholten:

• To enable the exchange of knowledge, debate and dialogue between people from different areas of work and life, from diverse backgrounds and with often controversial views;
• to host a broad political-democratic spectrum of guests from Germany and abroad;
• raise awareness of the connection between Austrian, European and global developments;
• to be committed to humanistic, social-democratic values, while remaining capable of compromise and pragmatic in the search for solutions, reforms and implementation.

Bruno Kreisky's political priorities - including strengthening democracy, development of the European Union, peace and security, especially in the Middle East, development cooperation - are still core concerns of the Forum.

Not located in the centre of the city, it has nevertheless become a renowned focal point for European and global debates with high-ranking politicians, scientists and intellectuals from all over the world. Numerous international delegations and project participants have benefited from the „Kreisky method“ and the analogue, continuous meeting formats. The Forum never loses sight of its relevance to the local context, to Austrian society and, in particular, to young people. Informal discussion groups, non-public formats and political mediation events have always benefited from the location on the outskirts of the city - which is very well connected in terms of transport links - with its village charm and many green spaces.

The house, which was modernised by the previous owner Joseph Redlich, a lawyer and politician and the last finance minister of the Danube monarchy until 1918, and given its present form, was only rented by Kreisky. After the property was purchased by Wiener Städtische Wechselseitige Versicherungsanstalt in 1960, Bruno Kreisky remained a tenant until his death.

Throughout his life, the villa and the impressive garden - the more than two-hundred-year-old Lebanon cedar tree has been a natural monument since 1943 - functioned as a second government office for the communicative and approachable „media chancellor“ Kreisky. His living room, which is a listed building, was a meeting place for political companions such as the German Social Democrat Willy Brandt and his Swedish colleague Olof Palme, the Portuguese President Mario Soares as well as heads of state and government, political activists, writers and intellectuals from all over the world. The Bruno Kreisky Forum continues this tradition. Bruno Kreisky was a frequent reader and a politician interested in art and culture. The extensive library with some signed editions and numerous works of art bear witness to this.

An example of his political understanding of art and culture can be seen in a work by Oskar Kokoschka in Kreisky's living room (lithograph „Selbstbildnis Kokoschkas“): From 1973 onwards, people expelled from Austria during the Nazi dictatorship - with their citizenship revoked - were able to regain Austrian citizenship without having to give up the new citizenship they had acquired in exile. This was the result of a long discussion between Bruno Kreisky and the artist Kokoschka, and the passing of the amendment to the law is also known as the „Lex Kokoschka“. Kreisky made it possible for Kokoschka to take up residence at his private address at Armbrustergasse 15.

Numerous other objects in the house tell such „story/s“.

In the years 1991-1993, the Austrian architectural firm Schluder and Kastner redesigned the residential building into an aesthetically modern and functional forum for dialogue. The original living rooms on the upper floor were combined into a large event hall; the Terrace Room - a transparent room open to the park - connects the hall with Kreisky's living room. The ground floor houses offices and workspaces. Where there was once a swimming pool and, since the remodelling, a library, a Bruno Kreisky exhibition is soon to be created.

The sculptures in the garden are on loan from the Museum of Applied Arts.

Part of the extensive garden is made available for exhibitions.
There are currently six (out of 80) photo portraits of Shoah survivors by Italian photographer Luigi Toscano, which were desecrated and destroyed on Vienna's Ring in May 2019 and placed in the garden after being repaired.