Places for classical and alternative culture in Oldenburg? There are quite a few! A stroll through the scene.
"Nowhere is more colourful than in the world" once proclaimed Horst Janssen, honorary citizen of the city and one of Germany's most famous draughtsmen and graphic artists. The artistic enfant terrible, who died in 1995, was of course right. And a stroll through the cultural scene shows that things are particularly colourful in Oldenburg.
The city's largest cultural institution is the Oldenburg State Theatre. With its mixture of theatre, opera, ballet, concerts and pop-cultural formats, it is Oldenburg's favourite child. The Sparte 7 programme and the theatre clubs invite you to join in. The city's many museums are also true classics: from local and regional history to art and cultural history to contemporary painting, graphics and media art, there are exciting things to discover.
From puppet theatre to Hollywood
Oldenburg has also made a name for itself far beyond its borders with other art and cultural venues and events. The Theater Laboratorium is an artistic gem and an absolute must for every new and old Oldenburg resident: with large and small hand puppets and great attention to detail, the actors stage humorous, serious and satirical plays for young and old. In 2017, the Laboratorium also opened the lemonade factory: sherbet was bottled here until 1965, today it is a rehearsal stage and second venue for young actors. Speaking of actors: In autumn, Oldenburg is the "place to be" for stars and starlets of the international indie film scene. That's when the curtain rises on the International Film Festival - one of the 25 coolest in the world according to MovieMaker magazine.
The Kulturetage offers a colourful potpourri of events at any time of year with varied productions at Theater K, readings, cabaret and concerts. The Cine k art cinema is also located here - here you can watch films that are off the beaten track. And almost everyone in Oldenburg eagerly awaits the annual cultural summer: In July, there are twelve days of free outdoor concerts, theatre, open-air cinema and a colourful family programme - fresh air and (mostly) blue skies included. The Kulturetage team is also behind this concept.
Plenty of space for creative minds
Alternative culture has had a home at Klub Polyester for almost 15 years. In 2014, the specially founded Polygenos Kulturräume cooperative took over the entire Poly-Haus. The members not only take care of the sustainable refurbishment and management of the building, but also fill it with life: Creative people and initiatives can rent rooms, and there is space for seminars, workshops and exhibitions. In addition to regular concerts and parties, short film screenings, readings, slam poetry and clothes swap parties also take place here.
The Cadillac - Centre for Youth Culture has been dedicated to music since the early 1990s. Young musicians and bands can find affordable rehearsal rooms here. Concerts by local and international bands regularly fill the concert hall and anyone who is interested in music can take part in "Sing das Ding" or jam sessions.
Still not colourful enough? Many other clubs, bars and cafés also regularly host smaller concerts, open stages, talks and workshops on a wide range of creative, social and sustainable topics.
If your head is spinning from all the art and culture: You can burn off energy with intensive table football training in the Dreiraumwohnung or at the Bike&Inliner Nights, every first Wednesday in the summer months. Otherwise, the following applies to Oldenburg residents at any time of the year, day or night: Not without my bike. Because the bike simply takes you everywhere.
