“Let’s get the future back together”

In the course of the opening of the Salzburg Festival, Vice Chancellor and Minister of Culture Andreas Babler underlines the social relevance of art and culture today: “Art can – especially in times of crisis – be our compass. It can help us think about the world and develop solutions.” In his speech, BABLER reminds the recently deceased director of the Vienna Burgtheater Claus Peymann and sees the festival “as the places of real sociopolitical debate.” Classics of high culture would hold us a mirror and remind us of eternal constants. Pop culture and contemporary art tell us something about the here and now, about our attitude to life. The topics that are negotiated in film and music are “a seismograph of the zeitgeist. This seismograph is currently striking in the pessimistic direction – not just here in Salzburg. It wasn’t always the case.” ****

Babler remembers his childhood and youth. At a time when his parents believed that he would be better as a workers’ child. Who believed in a policy that made it possible, embedded in more distribution justice. “Future meant vision, adventure-it was a promise. Today-only a few decades later-it looks completely different. The visions of the future are almost always apocalyptic. They root in the rise of right-wing extremists and authoritarians, they root in the war that leads Russia against Ukraine. In the destruction of the Gaza strip and the unimaginable suffering of the Palestinian civilian population. The roots are too clear, I ask myself: Why did we become so pessimistic? ”Said Babler.

“My thesis: The break came with the financial crisis in 2008. Dreams burst – and some stopped dreaming. This started the great promise to crumble our common promise of the post -war period. Today, many are only trying to stop relegation,” said Babler. First you have to see the world as it is. This is the only way to develop the mindset, which – according to the Federal President in Bregenz – leads us into the future. Because: “Yes – there are problems and there will always be some. But we have never had such good conditions to solve them.” You just have to look at the history of Austria. “Who would have thought at the time that one of the world’s most worth living in the world would have arisen on the ruins of the Second World War?”

BABLER therefore comes to an optimistic conclusion: “We can live in a better world. It will not go under if we act together. We can counter the climate crisis as the most pressing question of our time if we follow science. We can make Austria more fairly so that great dreams grow here again. We just have to believe in our strengths, act accordingly and ensure more justice.” The art also shows the way there, because, as the great theater maker Peymann said: “Theater controls the mighty, theater speaks for the powerful,” said Babler. That is why warns: “We must not ignore the Kassandras of our time. The young people warn and warn – but hardly anyone listens to them.”

“Let’s inspire ourselves here and today and throughout the festival time – and then act persistently. Think about how we master crises how we deal with changes and how we can make Austria’s promise of ascent again.” BABLER concludes his speech to all visitors to the Salzburg Festival with an order: “Let us dream together again. Let’s get the future back together.” (Conclusion) FF