Now that the year of the “Cultural Capital 2003” is over, Graz can display its virtues from a position of strength and self-confidence: its juxtaposition of traditional values with innovative originality is anything but ordinary.
With its “friendly alien” designed by Peter Cook and Colin Fournier, Graz has the most exciting Kunsthaus on the continent. Not convinced? Go and have a look! What’s more, Graz has a brand-new children’s museum, a spectacular venue for major events (the Stadthalle), a floating island on the River Mur, and a stunning house of literature (the Literaturhaus), all of them a powerful testament to the architectural (and literary) drive of the city. Then there’s the Helmut List Halle, an acoustic gem.
The cultural energy of the city is all-pervasive. The “Diagonale”, “styriarte” and “steirischer herbst” festivals of film, music and art attract huge crowds year after year. Graz has modern architecture that is envied across the world. It has an atmosphere that other towns and cities have tried to recreate artificially: urbane, yet just around the corner, rural again; relaxed and easy going, faithful to its traditions but delightfully unpredictable in its spirit of adventure.
In 2003, the loyal clock tower on the Schlossberg was juxtaposed with its own shadow twin; the opera house co-exists peacefully with a dramatic sculpture of an illuminated sword. It’s the way of the city. “Respect” in Graz means that it’s not a museum; that the new can and must rub shoulders with the old.
You don’t have to be here long before you start to feel the cultural vibe – the city is buzzing. An entire district is currently undergoing radical change: on the right bank of the Mur new cultural edifices, bars, restaurants and cafes are shooting up like mushrooms. A trendy wine bar opens up next to a traditional inn; so when it’s closing time at the pub, customers simply switch over to the bar. That’s typical for Graz – what passes for normal here is never run-of-the-mill. Anyone with a sense of adventure will end up falling hopelessly in love with this clever, crazy, charming and bold city.