The residency experience at the mumok museum in Vienna, part of the European project ‘The Floor is Yours’, took place from 12 to 15 November 2024 and was an important opportunity for discussion and growth for the local cultural community, particularly with regard to accessibility for deaf people and people with hearing impairments. During the week, experts from Rotterdam (including Kirsten de Ven and Marie Laure de Ven, mediators at the Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen) shared their experiences and good practices in the field of inclusivity, particularly in the context of art and curation.  The program also included the participation of Austrian professionals such as Elke Schaumberger, an Austrian sign language interpreter, and Oliver Suchanek, artist and curator, who helped develop new accessibility strategies at the museum.

The residency activities included meetings, discussions and visits to local institutions such as the Vienna Museum, known for its accessibility initiatives. Proposals that emerged included integrating Austrian Sign Language (ÖGS) into school visits, training deaf educators to conduct museum visits, and creating video guides for the mumok's permanent collection.

The highlight of the residency was a public seminar during Vienna Art Week, where the main outcomes of the program were presented.  Discussions centred on how the museum can promote inclusion and address the challenges of engaging with Vienna's Deaf community. The goal remains to develop long-term partnerships with local organisations, such as Gebärdenwelt, an online news channel in Austrian sign language, and Gebärdenverse, an association that promotes projects bringing deaf and hearing people together.  Another key achievement was the creation of a dedicated accessibility team, which will ensure inclusivity as a central, shared value at the museum.

The residency was an important step for mumok to consolidate its capacity to be a welcoming cultural institution, integrating international experience with local realities to develop more accessible and sustainable museum practices.