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The people of Neuburg celebrated its opening exuberantly - over forty years ago. Not much was left of the euphoria surrounding the market hall at the time. Instead, the building became a symbol of vacancy and a lack of ideas in the middle of the former royal seat. What could be done? Last year, the Brückenkollektiv association transformed the market hall into an art gallery for three months. A success. For the association and the town.
Small towns are often regarded as boring places where at most a long-established brass band has a right to exist. The Brückenkollektiv in Neuburg showed just how wrong this prejudice is. They used the market hall in the middle of the city center as a barely used building and turned it into a temporary art gallery for Neuburg. And above all, an art gallery that is completely different from other art galleries in Germany. Because the local creative industry presented itself and networked in it.
When Tobias Albrecht returned from Vienna to his old home of Neuburg an der Donau shortly before the coronavirus pandemic, the virus had caught the last of the city's subculture: "At least there used to be a night scene." The cultural life of the town, which has a population of just under 31,500, is dominated by the former residential palace. The rooms are now home to museums. All tried and tested structures. The contrast to Vienna was obvious to Albrecht - and he sensed a gap that needed to be filled. What will soon emerge will radiate far beyond Neuburg. Initiated by the Brückenkollektiv.
"It all made sense to us."
"It started as a side idea," says the chairman of the association today. "It was actually about coworking." Albrecht saw this as part of the cultural aspect. However, the focus soon shifted completely to art and culture.
The side idea quickly developed into something more. Partly because the gap left a lot of room: a cooperation and exhibition with the Stiftung Buchkunst was created, followed by a digital art exhibition with Berlin artists. All at different locations in the city.
It worked very well, it all made sense to us; but only in a different structure for us as a team.
Tobias Albrecht, Brückenkollektiv
An association was needed, which Albrecht founded together with Martin Eggert, another creative mind and managing director of Malerei Eggert in Neuburg.
Presentation convinced
The history of the Brückenkollektiv association, now based in premises on the Danube Bridge, only began two years ago. Today, the website states: "The Brückenkollektiv has thus made it its mission to rethink barely used or vacant places, initiate creative spaces and thus revitalize districts in Neuburg." And how the market hall became an art gallery is the perfect example of how the cultural and creative industries can enrich a city center.
Many members of the association have a similar background to Albrecht: they returned to Neuburg after several years in other cities and saw many opportunities there. (And also felt the same pain about the current situation.) A workshop organized by local politicians to combat vacancies in the city centre was one such opportunity. "To be precise, we saw from the city workshop that they were addressing the issue of the city center," says Albrecht. "We took this as an opportunity to give a presentation on pop-up concepts in which associations such as the Brückenkollektiv could participate." The presentation was convincing and the city suggested using the market hall after all. And this market hall was the perfect symbol of the current situation.
In April 1984, the people of Neuburg inaugurated their market hall, at which time great words were spoken about the building and its bright future. Situated in the middle of the city center, near the castle on Schrannenplatz, the hall offered plenty of space and was to become a central point of contact.
It would promote trade and communication and become an important part of the city. In the middle of it all and shaping the cityscape. However, the market hall soon degenerated into an alternative venue for events and the upper floor has not been used for decades. Too small for a proper market hall, they say. The building mainly comes to life during the Christmas season, when nativity scene exhibitions and ice skate rentals move in. So what to do?
Last summer, the Brückenkollektiv transformed the market hall into an art gallery. Around 50 different art and cultural events took place, including photography and painting exhibitions as well as concerts. "Free of charge, accessible to everyone", as the association put it. Because the collective wants to build bridges. To bring people together. Which is why these were not traditional exhibitions where visitors moved quietly through the aisles with the exhibits.
The public could draw or play in showcases, swings invited them to linger, table tennis and table football were available, as were couches and armchairs. The members of the association had set themselves two goals for this event: People should stay longer than at the usual other exhibitions in art halls and they should have a reason to come back. They achieved both. Over 6,000 visitors from all over the district and all age groups found their way to the Kunsthalle. Which was also worthwhile for the city.
From the city's point of view, the project was very productive, revitalized the city centre and kept visitors there. The 61-year-old gives the collective a good prognosis for further projects in the city center. Also because Neuburg has had a branch of Ingolstadt Technical University with the Faculty of Sustainable Infrastructure for three years. And the aim is to offer students a home that gives them what they need, says Habermeyer. This includes a diverse and young cultural scene.
Today, the Brückenkollektiv has almost 50 members. In addition to the prize money, the award of the State Prize for Bavarian Creative Places has given the association even more attention for its project around the Kunsthalle. To network even more with the regional economy. To find further sponsors. Because now it's all about "preserving the spirit", as Albrecht says, and creating economic viability.
Although the previous concept for the Kunsthalle is no longer possible due to city regulations, the association is currently working on a new concept for an Kunsthalle 2.0. The aim is to create a medium to long-term use from next year. A permanent answer to the vacancy problem. And it should not stop at this one newly conceived location in the city center.
The Brückenkollektiv is also already working on other events this year. A short film summer cinema in an old old town garden and further concerts are being planned. The collective is also developing a sound art installation for the city-organized cultural evening Wort-Klang-Bild.
But more importantly, it showed that a place always lives from the people who shape it. The market hall thus became a lively creative space, which could also be transferred to other Bavarian cities under different conditions. With cultural and economic benefits. The Brückenkollektiv provided an answer to the vacancies in Neuburg's city center and found accessible and creative solutions to abstract problems. It promotes local and regional artists and gives impetus to a young scene that is developing anew. Without any stuffiness, as the website says. Or simply: "On a mission to a Neuburg that you want."