Ladies and gentlemen, valued guests!

As has already been mentioned, the House of History itself has a long history. You can see just how long by looking into the detail.

Effectively, discussions about a separate institution dealing with Austrian history date back to 1919.
Even at this early stage there were discussions about a “Chamber of History”.

When I was given the opportunity to take up the role of federal minister for art and culture around a year ago, this included taking responsibility for the House of History.

At this point it was just under 100 years since the first foundation for this House of History had been laid.

It’s an important symbol that the opening of the House of History can take place in 2018, year of memorial and memory.

This year we remember events that shaped our Republic: from the founding of the Republic, the downfall of Austria in 1938 and the ratification of the UN Human Rights Declaration to the Prague Spring and more.

And so, with this in mind, it’s an important symbol that the exhibition titled “Into the Unknown – Austria since 1918” can be opened today and will be on display for around 18 months.

And yet: although we’re opening this institution today, it’s clear to everyone that the current situation is a foundation, to a certain degree a compromise.

That’s why, since the beginning of my time in office, I’ve been intensively exploring what the long-term future of this institution could be. With the clear goal of defining a professional and long-term prospectus and ensuring that the institution can be an educating and a researching one.

Over the past months we’ve therefore been holding talks at all levels and a few weeks ago unveiled a prospectus together with the president of the National Council, Wolfgang Sobotka, and the  museum’s director, Monika Sommer.

In a first step, we’ve also secured funding for 2019 and beyond.

As part of today’s opening, it’s very important for me personally to make clear that we all pledge to ensure the continued existence and further development of this institution, which is so important for Austria.

The House of History, this first foundation, will over the coming months be evaluated and a clear prospectus for the future will be established on the basis of this analysis.

But one thing is clear even now: in the long term it will be upgraded to a self-contained institution.
It’s essential to emphasise that today.

Furthermore, I believe that it’s absolutely essential to bring this institution closer to one of the most important institutions of our Republic, that is, Parliament.

I’m convinced that when it comes to matters of sensitive social importance – to which the interpretation of contemporary history doubtless belongs – there must be the broadest possible social consensus.
And in my view that can only be ensured in partnership with Parliament.

Ladies and gentlemen, almost exactly 100 years ago, on 12 November 1918, in the face of the terrible situation after a world war, people could hardly have imagined that the Austrians could one day live in a shared, peacefully united Europe.

To be able to live in great prosperity and security.
But today we should keep one thing in mind: democracy and prosperity mustn’t be taken for granted.

Anything that’s taken for granted is in danger of being forgotten. That’s why it’s our duty and our task to work actively on this each day.

Today’s opening of the “House of Austrian History” is an essential contribution to that.

Many thanks.