Kofmehl culture factory
The Kulturfabrik Kofmehl is a concert and cultural venue in the Swiss city of Solothurn . The company is organized as an association and does not work for profit. With over 75,000 visitors per year, the Kofmehl culture factory is the largest regular cultural event organizer in the Solothurn region and an important pillar of the cultural offerings in the canton of Solothurn , especially for young people. Over 200 events take place in the Kofmehl culture factory every year. Over 250 young people are involved, mostly on a voluntary basis, in the team at Kulturfabrik Kofmehl.
organization
The Kulturfabrik Kofmehl is an association under Swiss law. The company is largely run on a voluntary basis. Young people gain valuable experience behind the scenes at the Kulturfabrik and run a self-sustaining company. The company is managed by the association's board of directors (officially called "management"). It consists of eight people. They each run a department: office, program, advertising / PR, event services, catering, infrastructure / technology and room bar (the smaller event room). The association has permanent patronage, which is available to the board of directors in an advisory capacity - especially with regard to the management and contacts with authorities and offices.
Finances
According to its own information, the Kofmehl culture factory has a self-financing ratio of over 92 percent. About eight percent of the costs are covered by the cantonal lottery fund (state), the regional municipalities and sponsors (including Migros Culture Percentage ) and patrons. The proceeds, mainly from concerts by popular artists, are used to subsidize the niche program with readings, unknown artists and regional bands.
Emergence
The history of the Kulturfabrik Kofmehl begins in August 1992. At that time, in the west of Solothurn, at Gibelinstrasse 15, the old factory hall of "Otto Kofmehl Metallwaren AG" was empty. A group of young people put on a play in the empty hall. A regular operation slowly developed from this performance. The association Zwischenraum was founded. He received from the landowner, the construction company Marti , a lease for the temporary use of the hall until it was demolished. The contract was only ever concluded for one year.
The interim use lasted longer than expected. The Kofmehl culture factory was located in the old factory hall for twelve years. The Kulturfabrik took a big step at the beginning of June 1999: At that time, the operating association Zwischenraum merged with another Solothurn cultural organizer: the Creep Club (from 1993 to 1998 on Dammstrasse). The Kulturfabrik Kofmehl became the largest regular organizer in the city of Solothurn. The hall was constantly being expanded. In 2002 it had two event rooms with a capacity of 800, respectively. 150 people with associated bars, offices, workshops and storage rooms.
In the summer of 2004, the culture factory was about to end. The landowner canceled the lease, which had always been limited in time, because he hoped to finally be able to sell the property. A new motorway connection was built right next to the Kofmehl site, which of course made the land more valuable. The hall should be demolished. A new Coop supermarket is being built on the site .
Thousands of visitors of all ages said goodbye to the Kulturfabrik at a three-day closing party in June 2004.
New building
When the closure of the Kofmehl culture factory at the old location was certain, a large-scale action to save the culture factory was launched. The "Foundation for the Promotion of Youth Culture in the Canton of Solothurn" was established on a private initiative. A new building should be built. The town of Solothurn was only one kilometer from the old location removed a piece of land at the Aare in construction law from an anonymous donor provided a million francs available, the regional planning group Solothurn and the surrounding area was CHF 400,000, the Lottery Fund of the Canton Solothurn 700,000 Francs. And in a fundraising campaign run by the Solothurner Zeitung , 600,000 francs were raised. So that could be built. After an unprecedented rescue operation, the new culture factory at Hans-Huber-Strasse 43b was opened on April 21, 2005.
The new hall has a total capacity of 900 people (hall) and 200 people (room bar). Since the reopening, internationally known artists have been playing regularly at the Kofmehl. Over 75,000 people now visit the Kulturfabrik Kofmehl every year, making the Kulturfabrik Kofmehl one of the most popular concert venues in Switzerland. In 2012 the Kofmehl culture factory is likely to welcome its millionth visitor.
credentials
The following artists are u. a. already performed in the Kulturfabrik Kofmehl: Die Ärzte , Shaggy , Stereophonics , The Hives , Sunrise Avenue , Stone Sour , Beatsteaks , 2raumwohnung , Wir sind Helden , In Extremo , Jan Delay , Archives , Editors , Culcha Candela , Sportfreunde Stiller , Samy Deluxe , Blumentopf , Annett Louisan , As I Lay Dying , Sepultura , Sick of It All , Maceo Parker , Millencolin , Bloodhound Gang , Maxïmo Park , Train , Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77, 2ManyDJs, Bring Me the Horizon , Pennywise , The Baseballs , Christina Stürmer , De La Soul , Barclay James Harvest , Mother's Finest , Jedi Mind Tricks , Soulfly , Seether , Eagles of Death Metal , Monster Magnet , The Wombats , Uriah Heep , Trivium , Europe , Maceo Parker, John Mayall , The Sounds , The Rasmus , Crocus and much more.
recognition
With its commitment, Kulturfabrik Kofmehl plays an important role in promoting and communicating culture. For this, the sponsoring association received the recognition award for cultural mediation 2003 ("Kantonaler Kulturpreis") from the government council of the canton of Solothurn.
Web links
Coordinates: 47 ° 12 ′ 2 " N , 7 ° 31 ′ 41" E ; CH1903: 606776 / 227739