The new event series "Forum Opernhaus der Zukunft", which the state capital of Düsseldorf is organizing together with the Deutsche Oper am Rhein, kicked off on Monday, January 29. The first event focused on the question of how the opera house of the future can combine culture, participation and social interaction as a new "third place" for the diverse urban society. After being welcomed by Christoph Meyer, General Director of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein Düsseldorf Duisburg, Lord Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller gave a welcoming address.
"The new opera house is an investment in the future from which the generations after us should and will benefit. The new opera house is to become a beacon project in terms of urban development with international appeal," said Mayor Dr. Stephan Keller: "It is also to become a meeting place for urban society beyond the opera house - a so-called 'third place'. We therefore cordially invite all Düsseldorf residents to help shape this place with their ideas and wishes. The 'Forum Opernhaus der Zukunft' is one of many formats designed to facilitate this creative exchange directly."
Prof. Gernot Wolfram, Professor of Media and Cultural Management at the Macromedia University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, opened the event with the keynote speech "Third places: Spaces for a new togetherness". Miriam Koch, Councillor for Culture and Integration, then explained the current status of the new building project, before both speakers and guests Ernest Ampadu (Deputy Chairman, Haus der Kulturen Düsseldorf e.V.), Michaela Dicu (Director, Junge Oper am Rhein) and Stephan Schwering (Director, Düsseldorf Central Library) discussed the opportunities and prospects of opening up to a "third place" in a panel discussion. The discussion, which also included contributions from the audience, was moderated by cultural journalist Dr. Christiane Hoffmans.
Alderwoman Miriam Koch: "You don't build a new opera house just like that. We have developed the new spatial and functional program in many workshops. For example, it must be barrier-free and easily accessible, while at the same time we will also need protected spaces in the future to provide room for creativity. If we manage to design an opera house of the future in Düsseldorf that sets a new standard worldwide, then I will be satisfied."
The invitation to tender for an international architectural competition is currently being drawn up. The creation of a "third place" as an integral part of the opera house of the future is an elementary part of the requirements for the concept. The aim is to create an interactive meeting place for all social groups that serves both as a diverse "intercultural hub" and as a place of education, particularly for children and young people.
Keynote speaker Prof. Dr. Gernot Wolfram: "Düsseldorf has the potential to create something unique. In a third place, the entire urban society is mixed like in no other place. Communication is the central currency here, enabling people to feel connected to each other and form communities. Third places are an embryo of democracy. And that should start now."
Background
The new series of events "Forum Opernhaus der Zukunft" ("Forum Opera House of the Future") deals with content and programmatic concepts, strategies for openness and participation, the significance of the new building for the economy and tourism as well as the future topics of sustainability and digitalization surrounding the cultural and urban development project of the century. In terms of content, it builds on the previous formats of the two phases of public participation by the state capital of Düsseldorf on the opera house of the future. What constitutes the opera house of the future, what spaces does it need that go beyond its core function as a forward-looking production and performance venue for opera and ballet? These are some of the questions that will be discussed in this context.
After kicking off at the opera house, the series of events will go on tour through Düsseldorf. The "Opera House of the Future Forum" on the topic of "International City of Culture" will continue on Monday, March 18, in the auditorium of the Academy of Arts. Participation is free of charge for interested parties.
