We Bid a Fond Farewell to Linz09
Copyright: Linz09
Linz09 has meant 365 days of culture in all its forms, and a few refreshing updates in and for the City of Linz. Now, the final curtain is coming down on a year full of cultural diversity.
Visitors, audience members, participants—they’re the ones who have the final say about the success of a Capital of Culture year. Attendance at Linz09 events, exhibitions, festivals, actions and projects was nearly 3.5 million. This figure topped even the most optimistic estimates. Accordingly, we want to express our thanks first and foremost to all the tourists and locals whose enthusiasm and openness to novel experiences have made it all happen.There’s an upbeat tone across the board in Linz 2009 GmbH’s final wrap-up of the Capital of Culture year—both with respect to the content itself as well as the initiative’s finances. Linz09 has launched a wide array of groundbreaking developments that constitute a sustainable presence in Linz. A prime example is the LINZER CHARTA, a major initiative staged in conjunction with ACOUSTIC CITY that the Linz City Council passed as an official municipal policymaking instrument in the fight against noise pollution and that is already generating political echoes in cities beyond Austria's borders. Another big hit has been the KEPLER SALON; the efforts to preserve this very popular forum for scientific discussions are ongoing. HÖHENRAUSCH—High-Altitude Euphoria drew more than 270,000 visitors, making it the most successful contemporary art exhibition ever staged in Austria. In retrospect, 2009’s jam-packed cultural lineup has been characterized by great diversity as well as artistic excellence.
Linz09 has done a terrific job stimulating tourism too. While the global economic crisis was producing a decline in the number of overnight stays in all other major Austrian cities, Linz chalked up a 10% increase (according to the latest statistics released in November). Official EU agencies likewise look with great favor upon these proceedings; in fact, Linz09 has become the new benchmark and role model for European Capitals of Culture to come.
The Capital of Culture year began on December 31, 2008 with 130,000 people in attendance. We’ll probably never again experience the Nibelungen Bridge so crowded from railing to railing and bank to bank! But the farewell will be just as wonderful—a goodbye to a great year!
