On June 27, 1976 a group of activists, referring to themselves as the Arenauten, occupied the abandoned area of the St. Marx slaughterhouse to protest the lack of alternative culture venues for young people. Eventually the activists had to move to a part of the slaughterhouse built in 1908. That is where the story of Vienna’s largest alternative cultural and communication centre in Vienna begins: The Arena.
The historical brick buildings from the slaughterhouse are now used as a platform for cultural and social activities which are non-profit oriented and encourage social work. Especially for the youth in Vienna, the Arena is an indispensable part of the city’s scene, with events such as festivals, Open-Airs, concerts, exhibitions, or the famous outdoor cinema. (JE)
During the Tag des Denkmals on September 29th, you can visit the Arena. During this event there will be more information about the Arena and also tours about the location, photography, and exhibitions. There are also a lot of special activities for children and young people!
The Tag des Denkmals is organized by the Federal Office of Monument Protection (Bundesdenkmalamt – BDA). The aim of the event is to make the public aware of the importance of cultural heritage and to raise awareness about heritage protection and monument preservation.
For more information visit:
http://arena.wien/Home/Programm-Detail/concert-id/38694
https://tagdesdenkmals.at/de/programm/wien/
Make sure to check out our private tours, if you want to learn more about Vienna’s history. You can also find us on Instagram.