The WACA award is an important step for Wien Museum and a strong signal for other institutions.
Wien Museum has officially been awarded the WACA Silver certification, making it the first major museum in Austria to receive this recognition. The certification confirms that the museum’s website, wienmuseum.at, meets rigorous accessibility standards and ensures a barrier-free digital experience for all users.
Digital accessibility is no longer optional. With the European Accessibility Act and national regulations such as the Web-Zugänglichkeits-Gesetz, public institutions are legally obliged to make their digital services inclusive. But beyond compliance, accessibility is a cultural responsibility: museums are places of knowledge and shared heritage, and ensuring that their websites are accessible means opening their doors wider — for everyone.
The WACA (Web Accessibility Certificate Austria) is the leading Austrian certification for accessible websites, based on the international WCAG 2.1/2.2 standards. Achieving the Silver level means that wienmuseum.at fulfills a broad range of accessibility criteria, from clear navigation structures and text alternatives for images to keyboard-friendly operation and assistive technology support. Silver certification represents a significant step forward, signaling that the website is not only legally compliant but also user-centered and inclusive by design.
At treat.agency, we had the privilege of having the Wien Museum for this certification process. Achieving this milestone was only possible thanks to the museum’s dedicated colleagues who engaged deeply with the process and to the external auditors whose rigorous evaluation ensured that every standard was properly met. Our sincere thanks go to everyone involved.
For Wien Museum, the certification is more than a seal — it’s a commitment. It underlines the museum’s role as a cultural institution that strives to be open to everyone, both on-site and online. The achievement also sets a precedent: with this certification, Wien Museum leads the way for Austrian museums and cultural institutions, showing that accessibility and digital excellence go hand in hand.
For us at treat.agency, this certification is also a gamechanger. It reflects our ongoing effort to expand our expertise and to make accessibility an integral part of our work. We take accessibility seriously — not just as a requirement, but as a standard of quality and responsibility that shapes every project we deliver.
