oho #3 - The magazine of the Principality of Liechtenstein

oho#3
promoted by state and business sectors. In addition, numerous
institutions with good reputations beyond national borders are also
involved in the cultural field. This no doubt explains why a great
many foundations have been set up to promote cultural activities.
Thanks to the long-standing cultural involvement of all these
parties, Liechtenstein can be seen – and has to be seen – as more
than just a centre for finance and business, but also as a cultural
landscape. Cultural policy endeavours of recent years, such as e.g.
cultural agreements with Switzerland and Austria, underscore the
determination to promote this image abroad. At the political level,
this is realised by means of treaties. In the cultural field, crossborder
projects and guest performances have a similar effect.
These range from classic cultural projects such as the “Reiseziel
Museum” cooperation project (cooperation with Voralberg), the
“Heimspiel” art competition (cooperation with Eastern Switzerland
and Voralberg), through guest theatrical performances staged by
the Vienna Burgtheater and Volkstheater, the Deutsche Theatre
Berlin or the Zurich Schauspielhaus at the TAK
Theatre Liechtenstein, to jointly-funded
acquisitions for the collection of the
Liechtenstein Museum of Art
(Ricke Collection, 2006).
Cultural exchange
The nurturing of
cultural relations
produces results not
just in Liechtenstein
itself. Liechtenstein
regularly takes part
in the Frankfurt and
Leipzig Book Fairs, is
part of foreign cultural
festivals (Poolbar) and
presents itself at major
international cultural events
(Venice Biennial). The Liechtenstein
National Museum and the Liechtenstein
Museum of Art pursue intensive exchanges at the regional
and international levels. Such undertakings are beneficial for both
sides, as was demonstrated by the brokering of the “Matheliebe”
exhibition to the Egyptian Museum in Munich, and the many joint
exhibitions that have been organised over the years. Typical for
Liechtenstein is the fact that local interests are not overlooked
either. Seven of the eleven political municipalities maintain their
own cultural institutions, and almost all municipalities help to
nurture local history and local customs through their own
collections of cultural assets.
Culture builds bridges
All this clearly demonstrates how intensively Liechtenstein
cultivates good neighbourly relations. At local, regional and
international levels. The past has shown that culture is an
important bridge builder. In a country that is bounded by
mountains and the River Rhine, this factor should not be
underestimated. Culture mediates between municipalities,
regions and countries, operates across borders and boosts
understanding between peoples. It helps ensure that
neighbourliness is understood not merely as a “community of
location” (in accordance with the sociological theory of Ferdinand
Tönnies). Culture establishes proximity, awakens curiosity, offers
support, highlights common ground and differences, focuses
attention, strengthens the sense of identity and undermines
socio-cultural boundaries.
Involvement in outside activities helps make inside activities
discernible. “If we were able to see ourselves
through the eyes of our neighbours,
we would often envy
ourselves,” declares the
Swiss journalist Walter
Ludin. Liechtenstein
understands the
value of a
positive outside
perspective.
This means the
cultivation of
neighbourly
relations –
irrespective of
whether this is at
the political,
economic, social or
cultural level – has long
been an integral part of domestic
cultural endeavours. The culture of a
small country that is aware of its boundaries, yet
sees these not as an obstacle, and instead as an opportunity. If
culture is accorded the value it deserves, it can make an important
contribution towards positive neighbourly relations, to living
together in an age of increasing isolation, to exchanging ideas in
an age of seemingly insurmountable differences. And if – as the
Austrian dramatist Johann Nepomuk Nestroy once opined –
“culture begins in the heart of each individual”, then each
individual contributes towards the nurturing of good neighbourly
relations. In short: genuine neighbourly culture!
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