Press conference 22th October 2007
Presentation Programme 1/3
22th October 2007, 12 p.m., Sky Media Loft / Ars Electronica Center
With:
Martin Heller (Artistic Director Linz09), Vice Mayor Dr. Erich Watzl, Mayor Franz Dobusch, Governor Dr. Josef Pühringer, Ulrich Fuchs (Deputy Artistic Director, Head of Project Development Linz09)
Angelika Fitz (Project: Linz Texas), Airan Berg (Artistic Director Performing Arts Linz09 - Projects: Academy of the Impossible, Die verborgene Stadt / The Concealed City), Galia Stadelbauer-Baeva (Verein MAIZ, Project: Linzer Torten), Mag. Martin Sturm (Director OK Offenes Kulturhaus Oberösterreich, Project: Tiefenrausch), Stella Rollig (Artistic Director Lentos Kunstmuseum Linz, Project: See this Sound), Mag. Barbara Pitschmann (Project: Subversiv Messe / Subversiv Fair), Uli Böker (Mayor Ottensheim, Project: Kulturbaden), Gudrun Wallenböck (Project: Sommerfrische / Summer Retreat), Peter Androsch (Project: Circus)
From different perspectives, ten chapters in the book tell various stories about the city of Linz: Linz Welcome, Linz Capital, Linz Power, Linz Travel, Linz World, Linz Memory, Linz Knowledge, Linz Activity, Linz Holiday and Linz Dream. Europe is the second area addressed in the programme but not second in significance; the city’s past history determines its position in a European context.
Events related to the Capital of Culture year have been taking place since 2007 and will continue well in to the coming year. At the beginning of 2008, Martin Heller, Director of Linz09, will invite politicians to the Lentos Museum of Contemporary Art under the heading „Politik liebt Kunst / Politics Love Art“. During this event, local politicians will be invited to select their favourite works of art and speak publicly about what the particular piece means to them and what art signifies personally. In the spring, collaboration with the OK Offenes Kulturhaus Upper Austria will continue: after the successful exhibition „Schaurausch“ (an open air exhibition located throughout downtown) last May and June, the exhibition „Tiefenrausch“, will take visitors underground to the cellars and reservoirs far below Linz. Hubert von Goisern will launch the second leg of his „Linz Europa Tour West”. In the summer months of 2008, the exhibition “Linz Texas” will premiere at the Architekturzentrum Vienna and in the fall, move to the Stadtmuseum Graz. The film compares relationships and conventional Linz characteristics to other cities around the world. Beginning in the summer of 2008, people interested in theatre will have a unique opportunity to explore their acting skills and abilities in visual arts by attending theatre courses and workshops provided by the “Academy of the Impossible”, under the guidance of international theatre playwright and director David Mayaan. In the area of music and acoustics, Linz has high aspirations: Linz will strive to become the acoustic modl town for Europe and, with the event “Hörstadt / Audible City”, will attempt to create an awareness of acoustical consciousness and highlight the exemplary development of acoustics in and around city. At the end of 2008, the first “Turmeremit / The Hermit in the Tower” will move into his/her quarters in the tower room of the Mariendom church while Linz guests – even in the months before – can already lodge at the “Pixel Hotel”.
In contrast to most of the past Capital of Cultures, Linz intends to celebrate the official start of Capital of Culture in 2009 at the same New Years festivities that will ring in 2009. The entire city will be incorporated into a grand scale celebration.
In collaboration with the cultural institutions in the city, and the surrounding areas, a multitude of exhibitions, projects, conceptual ideas for Linz 2009 Capital of Culture Europe have been created and organised, incorporating existing regional festivals as well as educational institutions, clubs and the alternative art scene.
The city’s past is a significant and important area that will be featured and focused upon. In the exhibition “Kulturhauptstadt des Führers / The Cultural Capital of the Führer”, arranged and coordinated by professors of art and contemporary history, the Capital of Culture, in collaboration with the OÖ Landesmuseen, will depict the cultural politics, as well as the regional cultural life, during a time of National Socialism. In contrast to the current political election year of 2009, foreign election observers deliberate within the concept “Demokratie ist Kultur! / Democracy is Culture!” and the emotional drama of a campaign candidate will be commented upon immediately after the results appear.
„Linz liest Vilnius / Linz Reads Vilnius“ introduces us to translator Cornelius Hell as he presents Lithuanian literature at the StifterHaus and attempts to explore the cultural state of affairs and the candour and traditions of our partner city, Vilnius, through its writings. “UmLinzRum / RoundAboutLinz” – sets up temporary workshops in Vilnius and Linz and offers students and instructors alike an opportunity to discuss and dispute literature.
Contemporary masters of shadow and puppet theatre unify Linz09 at the “Doppelgänger” (look alike) Festival.
While the Flemish director Luk Perceval tells the untold stories of a „Die verborgene Stadt / The Concealed City“ and explore the underground shelters of Linz together, the traditional Linz Christmas market stalls indulge in “Sommerfrische / Summer Retreat”. Those wishing to continue enjoying summer holidays can wander along the shores of the Danube from Dürnberg to the “Lido” – the sandy beach in Ottensheim – for a “Kulturbaden / Culture Bathing”. Visitors can spend the night outdoors and experience unusual events organised to incorporate the Danube as a main theme. The programme will run the entire summer. The idea of converting a natural setting to become a cultural setting for the public creates a cultural landscape that develops into an open air arena. “Der kranke Hase / The Sick Rabbit” from the grotto at Pöstlingberg will leave his home on the hilltop and venture out to the Capital of Culture where he will proceed to turn city art projects upside down.
At the end of the summer, the new AEC – Ars Electronica Centre, a collaboration partner of Linz09, will serve as a base camp for the virtual and telematic project “80+1. Eine Weltreise / A Global Voyage”. By means of pictures, interviews, sounds and interventions in a cultural exchange of 20 locations, topics and people, Linz “travels” around the world, something of great importance for our future. In the three-day “Subversiv Messe / Subversive Fair” event, boundaries will be crossed in the areas of fashion, design, architecture, and performance art. Artists from around the world will present a broad display of their work as well as products, strategies and methods designed to undermine authority and power.
By selecting the „old“ AEC, currently in the midst of renovation, as the location for today’s press conference, Linz 2009 Capital of Culture Europe wants to signify the “work in progress” of Linz09 and also symbolically convey that the programme itself will continue be built upon. In Autumn 2008, two additional programmes will follow that will portray how the line up of events will continue to develop, merge and improve. In the near future also a Linz book will be published with photos by Paul Kranzler and texts covering a multitude of aspects within the city and the surrounding region. Declarations of love and adventure, a
captain’s log and an array of unique personal perspective will cast an unusual and uninhibited look at Linz. Programme 1/3, as well as the Linz book, will be available in both German and English.
Finances for Linz 2009 Capital of Culture Europe Organisation GmbH is as follows: the City of Linz (20 millions euro), the state of Upper Austria (20 millions euro) and the Ministry of Education, Art and Culture (20 millions euro). The European Union expressed a declaration of intent over 1,5 millions euro. Linz as Capital of Culture is also pleased to have numerous private sponsors and partners. The foremost include Top Club partners, voestalpine, ORF (Austrian Broadcasting), and the ÖBB (Austrian Railway). Linz09 appreciates the interest of additional business and potential sponsors in Linz and hopes to expand its list of partners.
Programme 2008 - Details:
Politik liebt Kunst / Politics love Art
Summer Retreat Symposium
Jenseits von Geschichte / Beyond History
Tiefenrausch
Linz Europa Tour West
Linz Texas
Academy of the Impossible
UmLinzRum / RoundAboutLinz
Political Sculpture: Barlach/Kasper/Thorak/Wotruba
"Kulturhauptstadt des Führers" / "The Cultural Capital of the Führer"
Advent08
Turmeremit / The Hermit in the Tower
Opening09
Kopfstand09 / Headstand09
Seitensprünge / Escapades
Pixelhotel
Hörstadt / Audible City
Das neugierige Museum / The Inquisitive Museum
Programme 2009 - A Selection
Linz reads Vilnius
Circus
Summer Retreat
See this Sound
Kulturbaden / Culture Bathing
Linzer Torten
Subversiv Messe / Subversive Fair
Die verborgene Stadt / The Concealed City
Linz vs. Vilnius
