Baumax founder Essl closes its museum

The Essl museum in Klosterneuburg near Vienna winds up its exhibition programme on 1 July 2016. The Essle family, who previously owned the Austrian DIY retail chain Baumax, which has now disappeared from the market, funded the building of the museum and its running and upkeep for 17 years out of their own pockets, according to a press release. This is no longer possible because the Austrian government has refused to contribute to its operating costs. The collection remains intact.