Esch2022 Programme Kicks Off in Esch-sur-Alzette, Belval

Saturday 26 February 2022 marks the official launch of the Esch2022 - European Capital of Culture programme, with numerous activities scheduled to take place in the city centre of Esch-sur-Alzette and in Esch-Belval from 16:00 to 23:00.

In 2022, three cities hold the title of European Capital of Culture: Esch-sur-Alzette (Esch2022) in Luxembourg, Kaunas (Kaunas 2022) in Lithuania and Novi Sad (Novi Sad 2022) in Serbia.

The Esch2022 programme is taking place under the slogan "Remix Culture", with the official "REMIX Opening" being held in the town hall square in Esch-sur-Alzette (Place de l'Hôtel de Ville, Esch-Centre) this evening at 17:30. From 18:30 onwards, both Esch-Centre and Esch-Belval will host several shows, music and performances.

Ahead of the official opening, members of the Luxembourg and international press gathered in Esch-Belval on Saturday morning for a presentation of the Esch2022 programme and exhibitions.

Nancy Braun, Director General of Esch2022, kicked off this morning's presentation by welcoming nearly 70 press members, artists and participants.

Françoise Poos, Cultural Programme Director of Esch2022, introduced the curators of the two exhibitions opening to the public on Sunday 27 February 2022, "REMIXING INDUSTRIAL PASTS: Constructing the Identity of the Minett", a project by Tokonoma and 2F Architettura in collaboration with the University of Luxembourg (C²DH) presented at the Massenoire building, and "Hacking Identity - Dancing Diversity" in collaboration with the ZKM I Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe at the Möllerei building. Both will be on display on the Esch-Belval site.

Ms Poos stated that both the exhibitions are aimed at creating links between the past and the future, especially the industrial past of the Esch-Belval, which until 1990s was an active industrial production site. With the Esch2022 project, it is an opportunity to highlight and reconnect with the past, and in doing so, "REMIX" art, culture and historical hetitage.

Stefan Krebs, Head of the Public History axis, C²DH at University of Luxembourg, and Chiara Ligi, Creative producer and multimedia artist, Tokonoma, curators of the "REMIXING INDUSTRIAL PASTS: Constructing the Identity of the Minett" exhibition, thanked the CNA archives for multimedia access and public and private support with photographs and videos from the past 100 years. Together, they wanted to recreate how people lived in the past, through extensive research, and bring the experience to life in an immersive multimedia exhibition.

Peter Weibel, Chairman and CEO, ZKM I Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, and Anett Holzheid, Scientific consultant, ZKM I Center for Art and Media Karlsruhe, curators of the "Hacking Identity - Dancing Diversity" exhibition, discussed the concepts of identity, individualism and equality. Prof Weibel elaborated on how we all are different as individuals, with different personal identities, while remaining equal as humans at the same time. There will be 28 artworks on display, creating a poetic walk for individuals to explore and interact with human diversity and equality.

Official opening

Esch2022 organisers have split the main attractions across four sites which follow the CovidCheck 2G+ system and most of which require a ticket (sold out). Nineteen concerts featuring artists from Luxembourg, France and the Greater Region as well as performers from the two other European Capitals of Culture are planned for the evening.

• Esch-Centre:
  • Mission Control Stage - Place de l'Hôtel de Ville : Saxitude, Seed to Tree and Pilon
  • Place de la Résistance Stage: Colour of Bubbles (from European Capital of Culture partner city Kaunas 2022), Antikvariniai Kašpirovskio dantys (from Kaunas 2022), Les Jahrdiniers and Zero Point Five
• Esch-Belval:
  • - Rocket Launch Pad Stage: Short Reports (from European Capital of Culture partner city Novi Sad 2022), Chaild, Maz, Ryvage and The Penelopes
  • - Rockhal Stage: Future Frequencies and Miss Sappho

Ms Poos confirmed that Esch2022 is fully sold-out with 25,000 tickets reserved for the evening.

Live music, DJ sets, dance performances, projection mappings, light installations and a wide range of live entertainment events will take place in different spots, on stages and on every street corner.

At 21:30, a virtual rocket will take off at the foot of the Blast Furnace A on the Esch-Belval site while Esch-Centre will serve as its space mission control centre.

Visitors can travel between the two sites by train or by shuttle bus, free of charge. However, access to different sites will require an entrance ticket.

Further information is available on the official Esch2022 website: https://esch2022.lu/en/.