How can rural areas continue to develop in the future? How can traditions be preserved and still keep pace with modernity? How to build without destroying nature? How can we organise tourism efficiently without restricting our own lives? How to be networked with the world and still live regionally? How to remember the past and think about the future? How to use art to avoid marginalisation and show young people prospects?

These were the questions that the Bad Ischl Salzkammergut region focussed on in 2024. For the first time, it was not a city but an Alpine region that was the European Capital of Culture. 23 municipalities in this unique landscape dared to be the Capital of Culture region together and took the opportunity to network, to enter into close dialogue, to reflect on themselves and their own history through art, artistic interventions and cultural stimuli, to take a different look at themselves, to confront themselves with new thoughts, influences, experiences and visions, to understand each other better and to position themselves in a more differentiated way in the European and international context, in line with the new geopolitical situation.

The Capital of Culture Year 2024 was conceived as a catalyst for far-reaching, sustainable change. Art and culture played a central role as a driver for successful civic, social and economic developments. The Salzkammergut has impressively demonstrated that a region with a strong community spirit and cultural richness can not only generate enthusiasm in the short term, but also develop a sustainable dynamic in the long term. The entire project was supported by around 2,800 project participants and artists from the region and 73 countries.

On the initiative of the Capital of Culture, spaces of opportunity were opened up such as the Sudhaus, which will be revitalised as a cultural centre in the future, the Lehár Theatre with its general renovation from 2025 and reopening in 2027 was put on track, the Museum of the City of Bad Ischl was redesigned, the Bartlhaus Writing Museum, the Altaussee Literature Museum, vacant spaces were filled with art in ÖBB railway stations and the KunstQuartier Gmunden was launched as a new meeting place for contemporary art. Many projects in the fields of building culture and crafts such as interventa Hallstatt, Zimmer mit Aussicht and SCALA Salzkammergut Craft Art Lab will continue to revitalise the Salzkammergut region with new visions in the future and help to position it even more strongly internationally. The Capital of Culture 2024 team actively advised and supported the project organisers and thus also led the projects to success. They contributed to the professionalisation of cultural work in the region – the knowledge gained will remain with the region and the cultural scene.

The establishment of the two successor organisations Aufbruch, Salzkammergut! in Upper Austria and Kulturbüro Ausseerland Salzkammergut in Styria, which will act as contact points and hubs in the future, will further secure the long-term cultural development of the Salzkammergut.

The central aim is to effectively pass on the wealth of experience of those involved in the Capital of Culture – from artists and project organisers to visitors. The collected impressions form the basis for determining the position of regional culture. The aim is to position the Salzkammergut as an open, creative space for the future in which people can try out innovative forms of contemporary rural life. An area of the future – a model for Europe!

Elisabeth Schweeger
Artistic Director of the European Capital of Culture Bad Ischl Salzkammergut 2024