Sustainable development as a guiding principle connects three levels: the economic, social and ecological. Standards, values and practices in all areas of society should pursue this guiding principle. This represents a cultural challenge. However, this cultural dimension has been neglected in the sustainability discourse to date and has not been specifically incorporated into the guiding principle. This paper examines the contribution of cultural institutions to sustainability. The term 'culture' is limited here to the intellectual and artistic dimension. This relationship is illustrated by four case studies of renowned museums in Basel. The contribution of cultural institutions to sustainability is analysed and the possibilities for control by the state and museums are identified. The focus is on the educational and communicative mission of museums. It is shown that museums fulfil this contribution in different ways.