20. Outlook

For many years, the mdw has engaged in extensive scientific exploration of the history of the institution during Austro-fascism and National Socialism. In interdisciplinary collaboration, numerous aspects of this history have already been explored within the framework of publications, exhibitions, and lectures, while just as many topics await further investigation. The central concern of the in-house research collective Klingende Zeitgeschichte  - Resonating Contemporary History - is to dedicate itself to this topic in continuous research work and thus emphasise the relevance of engaging with one’s own past.  

In particular, attention should be drawn to the need for a thorough review of the early post-war period, which is still pending, especially with regard to staffing (dis)continuities. In part, this gap could be closed with the recently published “Memorial Book” by Erwin Strouhal, archive employee and member of the research collective. In addition to the further deepening of detailed biographical studies on historical actors at the mdw, the research collective will, in the future, strive in particular for comprehensive provenance research. Appropriate preliminary studies have already been initiated, as evidenced by various contributions to this exhibition: On the basis of certain objects, we have made an attempt in the exhibition to demonstrate the urgency of the detailed analysis of books, sheet music and musical instruments in the context of their origin and ownership.

Another concern of the research collective is that of taking an outward perspective. To this end, we endeavour to place the history of the mdw in the context of other German-speaking art colleges and conservatories. For example, how did the central cultural and national education policy of the National Socialist regime affect art and music universities? What were the parallels, and what were the differences? Was there a lively exchange between the individual institutions, or did their members rather encounter each other in the spirit of competition?

An early project of Resonating Contemporary History involved the creation of academic-artistic podcasts, which have been available online since 2019. We are very pleased that selected contents of this exhibition are now also being produced in a series of podcasts. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and within the framework of university teaching, these historical sources and objects are thus made tangible and audible.

We would like to thank: 

• the entire rectorate of the mdw, especially Rector Ulrike Sych, for financing the research project Objects Resonating Contemporary History),
• the mdw University Library for providing the rooms and for their support,
• colleagues at the mdw for their help in designing the exhibition, and
• colleagues in the numerous archives and libraries for their support in this research.