Stadtwerkstatt & Co

O2 in Lambach, Rossmarkt in Grieskirchen or the Stadtwerkstatt Linz: in the 1970s there was a wave of cultural initiatives and association that were founded in Upper Austria. The aim was the same then as now: to animate and promote contemporary culture in the region, establish an alternative (regional) culture, but also to call attention to important sociopolitical issues.

Field of Experimentation Beyond Traditional Culture (Locations)

The field in which the cultural initiatives and associations are dedicatedly active is broadly dispersed: they organize cultural events ranging from music to theater, literature to film. They experiment with contemporary art trends, and they also do so outside urban centers.

Enriching the Regional Quality of Life

Cultural initiatives and associations create an opportunity to explore contemporary culture in rural regions as well. With their partly alternative cultural offers they seek to reach a different audience apart from classical high culture – and at the same time to also counter possible reservations.

Stadtwerkstatt

The Stadtwerkstatt was founded in 1979 by students from the art university. First initiated as a reaction to the main square being "concreted over", the Stadtwerkstatt developed into a center of culture and communication that has been located since 1990 in Alt-Urfahr. The Stadtwerkstatt regularly holds music events, but also organizes other artistic and cultural activities. The Stadtwerkstatt is often involved with large performances, installations and actions in public space. The building of the Stadtwerkstatt also houses the independent Linz local radio station Radio FRO and the art and culture server servus.at.

KUPF – Cultural Platform Upper Austria

The Cultural Platform Upper Austria was initiated in 1982 and is the oldest still existing organizational structure among cultural initiatives in Austria. It was formally founded in 1984 as an umbrella association, lobby and network of cultural initiatives in Upper Austria by at first three association. The number of members rose to 25 cultural initiatives in the first year alone. Meanwhile the KUPF unites 106 cultural initiatives from the most diverse areas of contemporary culture. The aim of the KUPF is the continuous improvement of the framework conditions for independent cultural work.

Active Support

The striking diversity and the large cultural potential of the Independent Art Scene are an important component of cultural life in Upper Austria. For this reason, the Independent Art Scene was anchored in the Cultural Development Plan of the City of Linz (KEP) as one of the focal points of Linz cultural policies. Various funds, awards and scholarships from the Federal Province of Upper Austria and the City of Linz support the independent cultural activists in their field of activities.