Thousands of Taylor Swift Fans Flood Museums In Vienna

August 13, 2024 2:33 PM

Thousands of Taylor Swift fans flooded museums in Vienna over the weekend after multiple institutions waived entry fees after three of the singer’s concerts were cancelled due to security threats.(...)The Albertina fully embraced the moment, waiving its €19.90 regular entrance fee (€15.90 for visitors under 26 years) for more than 20,000 Swifties between Thursday, August 8 and Sunday, August 11. “On a normal and regular weekend, we would have, I would say 2,000 a day,” spokesperson Nina Eisterer told ARTnews, noting that these types of visitor numbers are usually for blockbuster exhibitions like the one for Claude Monet in 2018.
posted by bq (15 comments total)

A triumph of city marketing, but of course our rightwing populists are crying waste of taxpayer money.
posted by sohalt at 3:02 PM on August 13 [11 favorites]

I keep thinking if I was TS, like how would I handle this, the cancellation is not due to anything I did nevertheless I would want to do something to recognize and make better the disappointment of the fans.

I think this is an awesome and sweet gesture by the city. Friendship bracelets for everyone!
posted by St. Peepsburg at 3:06 PM on August 13 [21 favorites]

By the way there’s lots of stories about how the city has stepped up - churches opening their doors and playing swift music, pop up bracelet crafting etc.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 3:07 PM on August 13 [14 favorites]

They should have advertised these tickets as a €19.89 discount
posted by knile at 3:47 PM on August 13 [13 favorites]

A triumph of city marketing, but of course our rightwing populists are crying waste of taxpayer money.

Wonder how museum gift shops and cafes have been doing.
posted by trig at 4:11 PM on August 13 [10 favorites]

How cool.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 4:28 PM on August 13

How incredible. I wonder how many considered or would have been able to go without the cancelation of the concert and free entry! (I am of the opinion that all museums should be free though)
posted by tiny frying pan at 4:47 PM on August 13

It's alright, you can afford to lose a day or two
posted by chavenet at 5:01 PM on August 13 [4 favorites]

cui bono? The museums must be behind the security threats!
posted by bq at 6:50 PM on August 13 [2 favorites]

When I was backpacking through Europe back in the 00’s I remember being struck by the kindness of the people of Vienna. As I was making my way on public transport and by foot, guidebook in hand and pack on my back, each time I paused for a few seconds to get my bearings and work out where to go someone would stop and spontaneously ask if I needed help. I didn’t even get a chance to ask!

Despite those who would plan to terrorise others and those who complain at any kind gesture, I’m sure that most of the young people who were there last weekend will remember Vienna as a city who welcomed them and kept them safe.
posted by Flecks of light at 6:56 PM on August 13 [9 favorites]

Wonder how museum gift shops and cafes have been doing.

"For the Haus der Musik, 2,746 Swifties came to museum for its free entry between August 8 and August 11 instead of paying €17 for adults and €13 for students under the age of 27. This was almost half of the total number of visitors (5,862). The singer’s fans also increased gift shop sales by €4,500 ($4,918.88) over the weekend."

"Josef Gaschnitz, the chief financial officer of the Jüdisches Museum der Stadt, said visitor numbers were 'over 100% more' compared to normal days. 'Our gift shop had around 50% more sales, same with our bistro.'"

I liked: "[Nina] Eisterer said she and her colleagues in The Albertina’s marketing division were Swifties themselves" & "[Haus der Musik managing director Simon] Poscha, self-professed Taylor Swift fan."
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:46 PM on August 13 [8 favorites]

Genius.

...no, really, like actual genius not merely "wow clever".
posted by aramaic at 8:20 PM on August 13 [5 favorites]

ah, this is lovely.
posted by EllaEm at 11:28 AM on August 14 [1 favorite]

genius loci
posted by clew at 12:55 PM on August 14 [1 favorite]

I spent last week in Austria, traveling with a friend who had planned to go to two of the concerts over the weekend. We went to the Albertina on Saturday, and it was indeed VERY crowded. We toured the State Rooms, and the museum piped in Taylor Swift music into the exhibit. It was kind of odd, but also lovely -- in larger rooms, some fans gathered for reserved but heartfelt sing-a-longs and bracelet trading. I loved seeing so many young girls and women making connections with strangers, but also taking in so much art and culture!
posted by leftover_scrabble_rack at 4:07 PM on August 14 [2 favorites]