Die Petrol columnAn indispensable part of urban space and public life, celebrates its 170th anniversary in July 2025. In order to celebrate this special anniversary, a unique PR campaign organizes a unique PR campaign: On July 29, 2025, the general director of the Sea Festival Mörbisch and the Tabor Castle, Alfons Haider, Bettina Leidl-Director of the Vienna Museum Quarters, Peter Hofbauer-have IMPRESARIO of the Viennese Metropol and Paul Frey-Managing Director of the KHM Museum Association together The managing director of Kulturformat, Daniela Grill, a poster specially designed for the 170th anniversary on a lit barrier on the Wiener Ring. With this extraordinary action, culture format once again recognizes the petrol column, which is an integral part of the cityscape of Vienna.
“The petrol column is more than just an advertising medium; it is a piece of the city’s history and a cultural asset that has reinvented itself over the centuries,” said Daniela Grill, managing director of cultural format. “We are proud to celebrate this anniversary together with such prominent personalities and to emphasize the importance of this urban landmark.”
From Berlin to the world: a success story of urban communication
The idea for the petrol column came out of the need to counteract the wild posteration at the time over 170 years ago. Ernst Litfaß, a Berlin printing owner and publisher, proposed to the police chief of Berlin to set up official pillars for posters. After years of negotiations on December 5, 1854, Litfaß received the first approval for his “advertising pillars” and a monopoly until 1865. On July 1, 1855, the first “advertisement pillar” was set up in Berlin and called “Litfaße column” in honor of its inventor.
The LITFASS columns in Vienna
In Vienna, around 1,500 petrol columns are still operated today, which differ in their design and function. A special feature in Vienna are the so -called “Historical LITFASS columns”that are often under monument protection and shape the cityscape with its original charm. These columns are not only advertising media, but also certificates of city history.
In addition, there are also City light pillarwhich are particularly noticeable at night due to their back illumination and can often be found at frequented locations. This diversity makes the petrol column in Vienna a dynamic and adaptable medium, which always develops and still maintains its traditional function.
Prominent poster customers congratulate the petrol column
For culture, the outdoor advertising and, above all, the poster on the petrol columns are indispensable. The petrol columns as a city furniture automatically attract attention and thus also to the advertising messages to be transmitted.
Bettina Leidl, director of the Vienna Museum Quarter: “The LITFASS column is a wonderful analog communication channel in our digital world. It reaches a wide audience and is an integral part of the Viennese cityscape – an important partner for art and culture. Congratulations to 170 years of the petrol column!“
Alfons Haider, director of the Sea Festival Mörbisch and Tabor Castle: “As the organizer, we appreciate the reach and presence of the LITFASS column very much. It brings our messages directly to the people and has been a reliable partner for our festival for many years. I warmly congratulate the LITFASS column on your 170th anniversary!“
Peter Hofbauer, Impresario of the Vienna Metropol: “The Litfaße column is essential for us as a theater operator. It gives our announcements special visibility and makes a significant contribution to reaching the audience. It is a piece of Viennese soul. Happy 170th birthday, dear Litpass column!“
Paul Frey, Managing Director of the KHM Museum Association: “LITFASS columns are an important medium for the art historical museum. They traditionally remind you of the annual KHM annual card and the unique collections and make our guests curious about previously undiscovered artists like this this year.
Cultural format: strong outdoor advertising partner for Vienna’s cultural scene
Cultural format sees it as his mission to emphasize the essential importance of the cultural scene for Vienna. Following this commitment, the company also looks after customers with a lower budget. “We show the cultural scene how important it is for Vienna. That is why we also look after customers with a small budget,” said Cultural formatManaging director Daniela Grill.
The target group of Cultural format It is correspondingly diverse: it ranges from small artists with their flea markets and street art projects to the entire high and subculture. The offer of Cultural format Not just on the sale of advertising space. Rather, the company offers extensive services that range from the detailed planning of a poster campaign to the production of the advertising material to the final notice.
Diverse product range for the optimal media mix
Cultural format Create the perfect media mix for every event. The product range includes a wide selection of advertising space in order to effectively achieve each target group. This includes Platforms In subway stations, the classic LITFASS columns, Miniposter on light casoles and circuit boxes, large -scale Billboards, Transport Media and digital advertising space. The offer is rounded off by urban highlights like City Lights and Telelightsguarantee the maximum visibility in the cityscape.
Kulturformat GmbH
Orbi Tower, Thomas-Klestil-Platz 13
A-1030 Vienna
office@kulturformat.at
Telephone: +43 1 79 62 640
https://www.kulturformat.at/