Supergau

Supergau sees the “Gaue” – the five administrative districts of the province of Salzburg – not as geographical units, but as a cultural region in the broader sense. The art projects realised as part of the festival emerge from the region and, at their best, have an impact far beyond its borders. “We see the fact that this festival deliberately takes place in a rural area as a clear cultural policy statement: contemporary art belongs not only in the city centre, but everywhere where it is sought after, needed or perhaps not even expected yet.” In this way, artistic practice becomes a catalyst for cultural development in rural areas.
“We invite the people of the region to join us,” says Haiko Pfost, artistic director of the festivals in 2027 in Tennengau and 2029 in Pongau, calling for participation. “Our understanding of hospitality goes beyond organisation: it means creating shared spaces, building trust, and welcoming people without seeking to co-opt them. Artists, local partners and the audience should feel seen, taken seriously and invited at Supergau.”

Networking and production platform for the region

This active co-creation makes Supergau a networking and production platform that develops new forms of cooperation in rural areas and strengthens the visibility of contemporary art beyond urban centres.
Supergau sees itself as a space for dialogue and mediation: intensive collaboration with regional partners consolidates existing structures and enables new networks. It initiates projects that endure beyond the festival and remain anchored in the everyday culture of the area. This form of cooperation in a rural context thus becomes a forward-looking artistic practice within the context of global issues.

Open call in spring and residency in autumn

A site-specific call for proposals in spring invites regional, national and international artists to engage with the region’s societal, social, economic and political realities through their projects. As part of a residency in September 2026 in Tennengau, the selected artists will explore the area and engage in dialogue with local partners, residents and stakeholders.
“For this, we are looking for hosts and contributors from the Tennengau: people who are interested in sharing their knowledge, who work with their hands, who can provide venues, or who are simply curious and keen to engage,” says Thomas Hörl, responsible for regional networking, outreach and curation.

Educational programmes for children, teenagers & young adults

A particular focus of the festival programme in 2027 and 2029 is on artistic work with children, teenagers and young adults. In cooperation with educational institutions, youth centres and initiatives, Supergau opens up contemporary approaches to art for young people – ranging from participatory formats to pop-cultural and digital approaches. The focus is on artistic self-empowerment, cultural education and sustainable engagement. Particularly in rural areas, new spaces for experience are to be created in which young people can contribute their perspectives and play an active role in shaping the programme.