Baroque Gateways and Contemporary Critique

Mariahilferplatz historically served as the primary gateway into the Murvorstadt, welcoming travellers and traders coming from across the Mur River. Dominating the square is the Mariahilferkirche, boasting a striking Baroque twin-tower facade constructed between 1607 and 1744. Behind this historic exterior lies the tranquil inner courtyard of the former Minorite Monastery. Today, this complex is home to KULTUM (Kulturzentrum bei den Minoriten), an institution operating right at the intersection of contemporary visual culture, religion, and social critique. Modern art installations are integrated directly into the historic cloister wall, converting a place of traditional religious authority into an active venue for avant-garde cultural programming, including events for festivals such as steirischer herbst. This space exemplifies how the right bank repurposes its institutional history to encourage dialogue between sacred heritage and provocative contemporary art.