When art and culture collide!

After around 7 months of preparation, the time has finally come on 20. May at 5 p.m. the time has finally come: the VISIONS OF THE FUTURE2017 will open its doors! 

A lot has happened since the closed weekend in November, when the team jointly decided on the theme ofthis year's exhibition - "illusions.decay"- . A building was found, the former Jewish department store Totschek in Steinstraße, artists were selected by an expert jury, supporting program performers were invited, the building was scrubbed, rearranged, secured and measured - and now it can start soon!

The exhibition of contemporary art covers a wide range of forms of expression. Visitors to the festival can expect installations, photographs, drawings and paintings, sculptures and media art. The 20 artists from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Iran, Macedonia, Russia, Great Britain and Mexico have explored various facets of illusions, dreams and ideals, power, encounters and imagination. In several cases, the exhibition building has been strongly integrated into the artistic work. For example, there will be installations that incorporate the space and its essence; in some cases, the artists have even visited Steinstrasse themselves and explored the atmosphere in the rooms. In some cases, very specific materials have been chosen as the subject of observation; for example, there will be works of art that deal with objects such as pieces of wood or fine tights. But themes such as the relationship between humans and animals or the connection between illusions and the GDR era also play a role at ZUKUNFTSVISIONEN.

In addition to the types of art mentioned above, there will also beseveral live performances   , one of which will take place directly at the vernissage on the first day of the festival week. Additional information will be available during guided tours of the exhibition in German, English and Polish. And if you would like to find out more about the ZUKUNFTSVISIONEN concept and the history of the now 11-year-old format, you can do so on a guided tour of the city. Here, former ZuVi houses are shown and their stories - connected to or independent of the ZuVi - are told. 

But there is also a program in Steinstraße outside of the exhibition times. At live performances by bands and DJs, as well as at the cozy bar evenings, ZuVi visitors can enjoy the exciting atmosphere in a once empty building. The people of Görlitz can also look forward to great collaborations, e.g. with WORDKA (the easternmost poetry slam in Germany), the Filmclub von der Rolle e.V. with its short film night format and the DJs from Champloo Music. They can get active themselves at workshops on topics such as body painting or improv theater, as well as at the Open Stage, a platform for anyone who wants to showcase their talent. Another highlight will be the first reading of Görlitz legend poetry. For this, a native of Görlitz has translated legends about the city into lyrical form. He will recite these and one of his own invention with musical accompaniment at the ZUKUNFTSVISIONEN. 

The vernissage begins on May 20th at 5 pm and will include speeches by the patron and acting director of the Gerhardt-Hauptmann Theater in Zittau Dorottty Szalma, the jury member and head of the Kunstfonds der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden Silke Wagler and the team, a dance performance and a concluding bar evening with DJ. Anyone interested is cordially invited to attend. The opening itself will take place on the first floor of the building, and anyone wishing to view the exhibition afterwards can purchase tickets at the festival box office.

The ZUKUNFTSVISIONEN2017 team is looking forward to the week in Steinstraße and wishes all visitors a great festival experience!