On Monday 5 October 2026, Luxembourg’s Ministry of Culture announced the publication of the online catalogue of its art collection.
The collection has been assembled by the Ministry of Culture since the mid-1980s and one can now interactively explore the works that make up the collection.
“With the online publication of these works, we seek to showcase the work of artists and increase the visibility of their creations,” said Minister of Culture Eric Thill. “Through the online platform, we are making these works accessible to a wider audience, which is increasingly interested in our national art history. It is also an excellent way to (re)discover the wide range of artists who have contributed, and continue to contribute, to the richness of Luxembourg art.”
The Ministry of Culture’s collection currently comprises more than 750 works by around 350 artists. In addition to its online catalogue, the collection is primarily displayed in state institutions and ministries, Luxembourg’s embassies abroad and permanent representations of Luxembourg, as well as administrations, institutes and public establishments under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture. The works are made available to these institutions through a long-term lending policy aimed at contributing to their artistic development and enhancement. One-third of the works can now be viewed online. The platform is still being developed, and new works of art will be published each year.
Since 2019, acquisitions for the collection have been carried out by an acquisition committee, based on calls issued by the Ministry of Culture to art galleries established in Luxembourg or to artists. The committee’s members may also conduct their own searches and submit acquisition proposals. It consists of:
⁃ Gabriele D. Grawe, Villa Vauban, Luxembourg City Art Museum;
⁃ Claudine Hemmer, Ministry of Culture;
⁃ Clément Minighetti, independent expert (chair);
⁃ Lis Hausemer, Fine Arts Department, National Museum of Archaeology, History and Art;
⁃ Michèle Walerich, Decorative and Popular Arts/Contemporary Luxembourg History Department, National Museum of Archaeology, History and Art.
The development of the Ministry of Culture’s art collection is supported by a dedicated annual budget and pursues two objectives. First, it aims to reflect the diversity of contemporary Luxembourg artistic creation, with attention paid to the work of emerging, established and leading figures. Second, the Ministry seeks to preserve and promote the country’s cultural heritage.
The ministry said that the online platform project ultimately responds to recommendations No. 35 (“Enhance the Ministry of Culture’s art collection”) and No. 55 (“Establish a digital strategy for the national cultural heritage”) of the 2018–2028 Cultural Development Plan (Kulturentwécklungsplang). Through the Ministry of Culture’s Cultural Digital Strategy Coordination Service, coherent and harmonised strategic governance of cultural digital projects is ensured. The project is being developed in close collaboration with and with the support of the National Museum of Archaeology, History and Art (MNAHA).
The online platform can be accessed at mc-collection.lu.
