Soho in Ottakring is an art and urban district project that was started in 1999 as part of an artist initiative. It extends across the Brunnenviertel area of Ottakring, Vienna´s 16th district.
The Brunnenviertel is located close to the “Gürtel” a densely developed urban area surrounding the Brunnenmarkt street market. It has an area of c. 20 ha and a population of c. 8000 inhabitants. The percentage of immigrants in the population is 36%.SohoinOttakring has contiuously focused on aspects such as urban living, urban development, artistic intervention and possibilities for participation in the local environment as well as the question of participation and co-determination in public life. A key aspect is the cooperation between artists and theoreticians at a national and international level with various local groups and institutions such as the Gebietsbetreuung Ottakring, schools in the area, youth insitutions, businesses and businessmen and residents, as well as the pro-active use of public space during the biennal two-week festival in May.
The variable field created by the different residents and interests in the area in which Soho in Ottakring takes place creates the grounds – sometimes the cultural media – for artistic work. The breadth of these works is great and ranges from “classical” exhibitions to socio-political projects with a concrete commitment that take up the implications of the area as a model of social problems and put them on centerstage. This artistic practice has been given particular support for some time.
The dedication to supporting and strengthening socio-political art projects will continue. The concentration on social problems that can be identified in the area and the current issues is of particular concern.
Soho in Ottakring also strives to pursue exchanges with projects that have similar aims in other European cities.
Destabilized Ground: 20 years after the end of the Cold War we find ourselves in the midst of massive uncertainty instead of »flourishing landscapes.« Terrorism, the financial crisis and environmental catastrophes define the way we feel about our lives since the turn of the millennium. The arts are not immune to these developments. What role can art play currently? How can it prove itself within these crisis-ridden circumstances? In 2011, »SohoinOttakring« will explore, examine and introduce artistic strategies on destabilized territory. Urban public spaces as the densified local sites of a worldwide development are at the center of these endeavors.
Theme: Destabilized Ground
At the same time, we chose to subject our own approach to a far-reaching overhaul: »Soho in Ottakrings« structure has evolved from a once-a-year to a year-round basis. Projects and presentations on the subject of »urban/social spaces« will be held in the future. The well-known festival will take place as a biennial event from here on, so the next festival will be in 2012. Ottakring is »Soho’s« operating base and will remain the main venue of the festival.
