Markus Walz

Markus Walz is a Professor of Theoretical and Historical Museology at the Faculty of Computer Science and Media at Leipzig University of Applied Sciences (HTWK Leipzig). He has held this position since 2001 and has served as Dean of Studies for Museology during two periods (2003-2012 and 2021-2025). He was also a member of the founding committee of the Media Department at HTWK Leipzig (2004-2006).

Walz holds a PhD in Folklore from the University of Bonn and a doctorate in History from the University of Osnabrück. His academic background includes training as a church library assistant and experience as a scientific trainee at the Landesmuseum Koblenz. He previously worked as a museum consultant for the Westphalian Museum Office.

His research focuses on theoretical aspects of museology, museum definitions, conceptual art in museum contexts, cultural heritage, and historical perspectives on museums. His work engages with contemporary debates in the field, particularly around the evolving ICOM museum definition and the relationship between museums and conceptual art. Walz has published extensively on museological theory, with publications spanning from the 1980s to the present day, demonstrating his long-standing contribution to the field.

His recent publications (2020-2024) show a particular focus on museum definitions, conceptual art in museum contexts, gender perspectives in museum education, and the relationship between museums and cultural heritage. The publications reveal a consistent engagement with theoretical frameworks that shape contemporary museum practice.

Walz has contributed significantly to the academic discourse on museums in Germany, with particular attention to the historical development of museology in East and West Germany and the post-reunification period. His work bridges theoretical and practical aspects of museum work, making him a key figure in German museological scholarship.