The Weltmuseum Wien's new permanent exhibition consists of fourteen thematically independent halls that explore the art, culture, and belief systems of non-European cultures. The emphasis is on the collections and interpretation, and is told through the lens of Austria's long history of cultural interaction, collecting, and ethnographic research. The journey through each hall is non-linear, with deliberate breaks in the formal presentation allowing for contemporary discourse concerning the history of ethnology, and contemporary cultural perspectives.