“Gratitude and joy” is the first thing that comes from Hans Hinterreiter’s lips when the chairman of the Kulturforum Bad Zell is asked about the anniversary: For 40 years, the Kulturwochen Bad Zell have been inviting people to a varied dance between tradition and modernity. Its roots lie in the Volksbildungswerk Bad Zell, which was founded two years ago as the Kulturforum Bad Zell. “We have taken over many traditional events. With new forces, we want to make the whole thing even broader and more modern,” says Hans Hinterreiter, who has been working at the Volksbildungswerk for a good 30 years.
Since 1996 he has been in charge of the culture weeks. “Meanwhile we are a team” made up of 40 honorary members of the association and eight board members. “It’s a lot of fun for me. I’m not gifted as an artist, but I like to organize. I’m a cultural mediator.” An office to which he “came like the virgin to the child”. When his predecessor, Alois Schmidt, founder of the Volksbildungswerk in 1977, had to resign from office for health reasons, the Mühlviertler was called for help, even if he called himself a “cultural philistine”. It didn’t take long for the love of stage magic to kindle. “We try to get local artists on stage, but also international greats.” Great actors such as Maximilian Schell and Otto Schenk were guests. “This year Nikolaus Habjan is coming”, highly praised puppeteer.
Classic to Maypole Festival
“The artists are all on fire that they can go back on stage. I hope that the audience is on fire too.” These fears may be allayed by a look at the programme, which has many gems: from the start with the Festival Sinfonietta Linz to cabaret artist Christoph Fritz, the brass trio “Die Punte” with trombonist Werner Puntigam and readings with the Bad Zell author Johanna Schmidt, among others to the traditional maypole festival, which invites you to the market square again this year. (cash)
Maps, information: Bad Zell Tourist Office (Mon-Fri 9am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm), 05/07263 11 or 0664/4420851, www.kulturforum-badzell.at
Source: Nachrichten
