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Arena

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Arena
Arena Vienna
Background information
Founded 1975
Capacity Various
Location Vienna, Austria
Website Arena Wein

Arena (Also known as Arena Vienna, Arena Wein and Arena Wein Vienna) is a venue and cultural centre based in Vienna, Austria. From its 1970s origins in an abandoned former slaughterhouse used for the Vienna Festival and a squat for activists, the Arena grew into a centre for alternative culture. It is located at Baumgasse 80 in the Landstraße district.

History[]

The Arena traces its origin to when the director of the Vienna Festival (German: Wiener Festwochen), Ulrich Baumgartner, hosted theatre and cabaret productions from across Europe in the Museum of the 20th Century (Museum des 20. Jahrhunderts), which is now the 21er Haus. In 1975, the Arena moved to a derelict former slaughterhouse (Auslandsschlachthof) for performances of Jérôme Savary's Grand Magic Circus.[1]

Soon after, some of the structures within the vast campus of the slaughterhouse were slated for demolition. On 27 June 1976, when the performances of a musical ended their run at the Arena, the audience was encouraged to stay and squat in the buildings. A banner was unveiled which said 'Staying here is solidarity' (German: Hierbleiben ist Solidarität).[2] There were around 700 activists, who called themselves Arenauten.[3][4] Throughout July, participants organised cafés, a cinema, a women's house, a kids' house, a university and a theatre. A city newspaper was founded which is still in existence (der Falter).[5] More than a thousand people lived on the site, which had 12 buildings and was about the same size as Christiania in Copenhagen.[6][7] After performing there, Leonard Cohen called it "the best place to be in Vienna."[8] A summer party drew 8,000 people. All the events were free and received favourable coverage by the mainstream media.[9]

Thousands of people attended events until October, when the Arena was relinquished, as a result of both internal squabbles and pressure from the City Council.[10] Two days later, it was mostly demolished, but the council tolerated the squatters staying in one remaining building, namely the domestic abattoir (Inlandschlachthof).[11][12]

Alongside other still existing projects such as the Amerlingerhaus, Ernst-Kirchweger-Haus and WUK (Werkstätten und Kulturhaus), the Arena is a product of the 1970s and 1980s autonomous movement in Vienna.[13] The Arena has become an important centre for alternative culture in Vienna, hosting concerts, exhibitions and an open-air cinema in the courtyard. Alongside the large hall, which has hosted bands like Arctic Monkeys and Sonic Youth, there are two smaller rooms for events.[14][15] Arena has also hosted several festivals besides Vienna Festival, such as Punk in Drublic, Vienna Metal Meeting, Vienna Metal Open Air, ArenaPalooza and Give It A Name among other events.[16]

One of the smaller venue spaces is known as Roadtrip to Outta Space, hosting shows since 2007 and their first being Dozer, Brain Police and Stone Circus on 5 October.[17] Another venue known as Beisl would open in recent years within Arena.[18]


In 1977, Josef Aichholzer, Ruth Beckermann and Franz Grafl made a film called Arena Besetzt about the 1976 occupation of the Arena.[19]

Selected Bands Whom Performed At The Venue[]

NOTE: This list includes all venues within the cultural centre.

External Links[]

References[]

  1. ↑ [Redaktion 2006a: Doch dann erfuhr Manfred Stadelmann, ein Vorarlberger Architekturstudent, der am Bühnenbild des Musicals „Schabernack“ mitarbeitete, dass der Schlachthof nach dem Ende der Festwochen abgerissen werden sollte ... Am Sonntag, dem 27. Juni 1976, als in der Arena das Musical „Schabernack“ zum letzten Mal in Szene ging ...Hunderte junge Leute kamen nach St. Marx. Polizisten die sich an die Räumung machten, schickte der Hausherr Baumgartner weg. In der Veranstaltungshalle wurde ein Transparent gehisst: „Hierbleiben ist Solidarität.“]
  2. ↑ [Doch dann erfuhr Manfred Stadelmann, ein Vorarlberger Architekturstudent, der am Bühnenbild des Musicals „Schabernack“ mitarbeitete, dass der Schlachthof nach dem Ende der Festwochen abgerissen werden sollte ... Am Sonntag, dem 27. Juni 1976, als in der Arena das Musical „Schabernack“ zum letzten Mal in Szene ging ...Hunderte junge Leute kamen nach St. Marx. Polizisten die sich an die Räumung machten, schickte der Hausherr Baumgartner weg. In der Veranstaltungshalle wurde ein Transparent gehisst: „Hierbleiben ist Solidarität.“]
  3. ↑ Secret Vienna
  4. ↑ Weiner Zeitung
  5. ↑ [In den ersten Julitagen wurden immer mehr Gebäude adaptiert. Es entstand ein Filmpalast, Caféhäuser, ein Frauenhaus, ein Kinderhaus, ein Universität, Theater, Stadtzeitungen.]
  6. ↑ [Foltin, Robert (2014). "Squatting and Autonomous Action in Vienna, 1976-2012". In van Hoogenhuijze, Leendert; Katzeff, Ask; van der Stein, Bart (eds.). The City Is Ours: Squatting and Autonomous Movements in Europe from the 1970s to the Present. Oakland: PM Press. pp. 255–276. ISBN 9781604866834.]
  7. ↑ Profil.at
  8. ↑ [Deutsch-Schreiner, Evelyn (2014). "Austria". In Nagy, Peter; Rouyer, Phillippe (eds.). World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Volume 1: Europe. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1136118128.]
  9. ↑ [Winterer 2016b: Bei einem großen Sommerfest strömten 8000 Menschen in die Arena. Sie erlebten kostenlos Konzerte, Lesungen, Vorträge, Ausstellungen, Diskussionen ... Zur Überraschung de]
  10. ↑ [Foltin, Robert (2014). "Squatting and Autonomous Action in Vienna, 1976-2012". In van Hoogenhuijze, Leendert; Katzeff, Ask; van der Stein, Bart (eds.). The City Is Ours: Squatting and Autonomous Movements in Europe from the 1970s to the Present. Oakland: PM Press. pp. 255–276. ISBN 9781604866834.]
  11. ↑ [Winterer 2016c: Im Nachhinein wurde den Besetzern der Inlandsschlachthof zugesprochen]
  12. ↑ [Foltin, Robert (2016). "Vienna in March 1981: A 'Puzzling Demonstration' and Its Consequences". In Andresen, Knut; van der Stein, Bart (eds.). A European Youth Revolt: European Perspectives on Youth protest and Social Movements in the 1980s. London: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 41–52. ISBN 9781137304230.]
  13. ↑ [Edthofer, Julia (2011). "This is what Radical Democracy Looks Like! Reclaiming Urban Space in Vienna". In Perrone, C.; Manella, G.; Tripodi, L. (eds.). Everyday Life in the Segmented City. Bingley, United Kingdom: Emerald Group Publishing. pp. 95–119. doi:10.1108/S1047-0042(2011)0000011008. ISBN 978-1-78052-259-3. Retrieved 25 March 2020.]
  14. ↑ Secret Vienna
  15. ↑ Wein.Info
  16. ↑ Setlist.fm
  17. ↑ Roadtrip to Outta Space
  18. ↑ Arena Beisl Facebook
  19. ↑ [Edthofer, Julia (2011). "This is what Radical Democracy Looks Like! Reclaiming Urban Space in Vienna". In Perrone, C.; Manella, G.; Tripodi, L. (eds.). Everyday Life in the Segmented City. Bingley, United Kingdom: Emerald Group Publishing. pp. 95–119. doi:10.1108/S1047-0042(2011)0000011008. ISBN 978-1-78052-259-3. Retrieved 25 March 2020.]
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