Lower Austria – Hermann Dikovic talks about this: “We want to play for the whole country”

N: Summer vacation is just beginning in Lower Austria. The cultural summer is already in the middle. When does it start for the Department of Culture in Lower Austria?

Herman Dikovic: For us, the cultural summer starts in January! In Lower Austria nothing happens by chance in cultural politics.

What is cultural summer? What is cultural policy?

Djokovic: It is about covering all types. But it’s also about planning in a balanced way all year long—summer is a priority. It’s also about the close collaboration with tourism, from the culture at the winery to the cultural packages around Grafenegg. It also relates to Lower Austria’s status as a festive country with more than 100 festivals. And it comes to cover the whole country – from Semmering to Litschau.

And for whom does he play? f scheme?

Djokovic: Culture lives in Lower Austria and is an integral part of it. The people of Lower Austria also appreciate it. But it is played not only for the local population, but also for the Viennese audience and beyond.

Theatrefest NÖ celebrates its 30th next year. However, some NÖ summer theaters have been showing for more than five decades. Why was this successful in Lower Austria for so long – and so well?

Djokovic: Because in Lower Austria we have been strategically working on bringing culture and tourism together for years. Here’s the advantage: With us, things go hand in hand. The theater festival is our spearhead. But it is not only about large sites, but also about many small initiatives. It is offered for young and old, especially for families.

What does all this require? And what is missing?

Djokovic: This also requires new methods and creativity, so we also have to make failure possible. We also have many share projects and independent scene as support. Enabling, supporting and promoting this is our mission.

Culture received 140 million euros from the state in 2022. This year it should be 160 million. Is this enough?

Djokovic: There were 135 last year and 163 this year. But that still has to be decided in the state parliament on Thursday. The ruler fought to ensure that cultural budgets were secured. And we can do great with that! In addition, over the next three years, there will be 43 million for the renovation of the wall for the Lower Austria State Fair in 2026, 30 million for St. Pölten in 2024, 15 million for the riding school in Gravenig, and 14.5 million for the Stadt Theater. Wiener Neustadt, 9 million for the restoration of Schallaburg and 8.5 for Zeillern Castle.

And how many visitors should come to the cultural summer in Lower Austria this year? Theatrefest President Christina Springer predicts that summer theaters alone will break the 200,000 mark in 2023.

Djokovic: In 2022 we had around 3,000 events with around 450,000 visitors throughout the cultural summer. I suppose we’ll get over this this year. Anyway, ticket sales are already going really well!

When will the cultural summer end again? so what?

Djokovic: Sometime late August, mid September. Then the next focus begins: 50 years of Schallaburg with the Renaissance Gallery, Tangente in the state capital. And work for the next year is already in full swing! We can’t look at the crystal ball. But the cultural summer is on track. The governor of the state also gave the order to continue developing the cultural summer.