Ceremonial opening with Vice Mayor Wiederkehr in Favoriten: Old ‘Sonnwendplatzl’ became the illuminated “Square of Cultures” | PID Press

2023-09-13 20:00:15

Vienna (OTS/RK) – On Wednesday evening, Vice Mayor and Councilor for Integration Christoph Wiederkehr and district leader Marcus Franz opened the Platz der Kulturen in Favoriten. The place behind the main train station, formerly known as Sonnwendplatzl, is given the new name “Place of Cultures” a new meaning as Space for cultural exchange and as a place that invites you to live together respectfully and harmoniously.

Vice Mayor and City Councilor for Integration Christoph Wiederkehr opened the celebrations in Favoriten: “The Square of Cultures is a symbol of the diversity of our city and we want to promote the coexistence of different cultures. This is where habitats and social groups mix. As an integration city councilor for the city of Vienna, I am convinced that art and culture are the bridges that connect us, inspire us and encourage us to think about the questions of how we live together. Integration in a big city like Vienna is a constant challenge that we face.”

As part of the opening, the square was decorated with a light installation by “Viennese bright spots“ illuminates. By October 31st, the newly named “Place of Cultures“ with the light installations shining every day from sunset to 10 p.m. and in the morning hours. The installations at the new Platz der Kulturen deal with the right to “safe space” (light graphic Ahoo Maher), as well as the right to “bread, work, education and freedom”. There was also musical accompaniment from the Superar school choir and the Favoriten women’s choir.

Favorites as a melting pot

Favorites has been shaped by its diverse residents like hardly any other district in Vienna over the last 200 years. In the 19th century, many people from the then Austrian crown lands of Bohemia and Moravia, now the Czech Republic, worked in the brick factories of Favoriten. In the 1950s and 1960s, many workers from what was then Yugoslavia and Turkey who were recruited for the booming Austrian industry found a new home in Favoriten.

Around 220,000 Viennese with 157 different citizenships live in Favoriten today. In the area behind the main train station, shops, restaurants and the languages ​​spoken on the street convey an international atmosphere. Around 60% of the favorites have Austrian citizenship, around 6% Serbian citizenship, around 5% Turkish citizenship; these are the 3 most common citizenships in the city’s most populous district.

District head Marcus Franz recalled that the district also drew on the diversity of the population in the past: “This place, the later South and East Station – where goods circulated and workers from the monarchy were welcomed with open hands – helped shape the history of the district. Without this background, the diversity of the district – from the wine tavern culture, the markets to the beer garden culture in the Bohemian Prater – would be unimaginable.”

The light installation “Vienna Bright Spots 2023” can be seen for the fourth time at various locations in Vienna. In the time of Corona, the first edition of the light exhibition brightened dark nights in the city. The various light projections can currently be seen permanently in seven locations and once-off in ten locations in the city until October 31st. This year the light graphics highlight the theme of “Democracy”. More on this: Viennese bright spots

Current initiatives of MA 17 (Integration & Diversity):

Community communicators: Around 150 Viennese are part of the city’s “Community Communicators” project. They volunteer to promote better exchange between the city and various immigrant groups. Depending on your needs and with the support of MA 17 employees, they organize events for their community. More on this: Community communicators

StartVienna: The accompanying program StartWien supports newly immigrated Viennese in their start in Vienna. A consultation and information events (information modules) help with initial orientation in Vienna. With the Vienna language voucher (150 euros), the new Viennese receive a subsidy for a German course. The so-called Info Module Day takes place every month in the VHS at Arthaberplatz in Favoriten. 250 newly immigrated Viennese attend information events (information modules) on topics such as education, work, health or residence. More on this: StartVienna

Vienna needs you!: For more diversity in the Vienna police, MA 17 is organizing the event series “Vienna needs you!” with the police. Viennese people with a migration background should be motivated to apply to the police. Those interested can find out more about police work at the “Vienna needs you!” information event. The next event will take place on September 28, 2023 in the Favoriten office building. More information: “Vienna needs you”

Questions & Contact:

Nina Oezelt
Media spokesperson for the Vice Mayor Christoph Wiederkehr, MA
Tel.: [phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail]

Harald Schuster
Press spokesman for the district leader Favoriten
Mobil: [phone]
Tel.:[phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail]

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