Art and Culture
What counts is promoting the arts and preserving culture
Opera Graz
Both institutions share a history that reaches back to 1899. What began with the construction and donation of the Graz Opera House to the City of Graz, remains Steiermärkische Sparkasse's commitment to the sustainable promotion of art, culture, and society to this day.
Inspiring people and telling a story for and with them is what unites Graz Opera and Steiermärkische Sparkasse. Whether it be dramas, musicals, dance or enchanting fairy tales. Every year, over 170,000 visitors are entertained, enthralled and enchanted by the great stories of the opera world.
Discounts for Sparefroh Club members and customers of Steiermärkische Sparkasse can be requested at the box office.
Recreation – The Orchestra
Steiermärkische Sparkasse can look back on a long-standing tradition as a cultural partner and is taking on the role of main sponsor of “recreation — Großes Orchester Graz” for the 2021/2022 season. This is a new old partner, as the orchestra was previously supported by Bankhaus Krentschker, which merged with its parent institution, Steiermärkische Sparkasse, in 2020. We are particularly looking forward to embarking on the path to the future in harmony with recreation and filling the cultural landscape with new life!
© Werner Kmetitsch
Diagonale
Steiermärkische Sparkasse has a long-standing tradition as a partner of the regional cultural landscape. As of 2017, it is the main sponsor of Diagonale – the Festival of Austrian Film in Graz. By supporting Diagonale, Steiermärkische Sparkasse enriches its cultural portfolio and highlights the important role of the Austrian film industry in Styria. Every year in spring, Diagonale not only allows Austrian film culture to flourish anew, but also awakens all cinema-lovers from their cultural hibernation. It has been inspiring audiences and encouraging them to reflect critically on social issues for over two decades.
La Strada
Every year, the street and puppet theatre festival La Strada transforms the city of Graz and individual locations in Styria into a summery open-air stage. Artists from all over the world provide creative impulses and transform the inhabitants into the main actors. Steiermärkische Sparkasse has been connected to the street festival La Strada for a long time as a partner. Thinking outside the box and providing added value for the population is a desire that is shared by both the festival organisers and Steiermärkische Sparkasse. Individuality, creativity, and innovation are but a few of the buzzwords that describe this exceptional street and puppet theatre festival. For many years, it has been artistically exploring unplayed spaces, penetrating the urban quarters of the future and turning urban living spaces into a grand stage.
KUMA – The First App for Art and Culture in Styria
Art and culture can quite literally be found at every corner. From Bad Aussee to Bad Radkersburg, music, literature & co. spread across the country with a network of cultural offerings in which people can find and lose themselves. The KUMA app was developed so that culture fans only lose themselves and not the overview of events. True to the motto “Finding culture you love — easily”, KUMA functions as a digital cultural calendar with a practical search and filter function. Around 1,000 cultural events are available as soon as you launch the app, while simultaneously offering a platform for cultural providers.
Steiermärkische Sparkasse is the main sponsor, once again positioning itself as a reliable cultural partner through its engagement and support.
SCHREIBEREI – The Literary Prize Presented by Steiermärkische Sparkasse
Steiermärkische Sparkasse has been awarding the SCHREIBEREI — Literary Prize presented by Steiermärkische Sparkasse together with the traditional Leykam book publishing house since 2007 with the aim of supporting authors in their writing careers. So far, 22 writers have received the award and have had their works published.
The award winner will be presented to the public at a reading in Autumn 2024.
2022
Maria Hofer: „Arsen“
2020
Marion Zechner: „Bewölkt aber trocken“
2018
Margaritha Kinstner: „Papaverweg 6“
2016
Gudrun Fritsch: „Ich wird fällig“
2014
Johannes Wally: „Absprunghöhen“
2013
Birgit Pölzl: „Das Weite suchen“
Daniela Kocmut: „zwiesprachig GeDICHte“
2012
Reinhard Lechner: „handschrift, zeitstrahl“
Edi Matić: „Grimalda“
2011
Helwig Brunner: „Vorläufige Tage"
Wilfried Ohms: „neun stunden"
Robert Perišić: „Unser Mann vor Ort“
2010
Friederike Schwab mit „Insel im Maismeer“
Sophie Reyer mit „binnen“
Dalibor Cikojevic mit „Virtuosen, Musen und Striptease“
2009
Christoph Szalay: „stadt / land / fluss“
Wolfgang Maria Siegmund: „Männerb(r)uch“
Dražen Katunarić: „Die Bettlerin“
2008
Margit Kuchler-D`Aiello: „Portrait eines Balkonsitzers“
Sophie Reyer: „Vertrocknete Vögel“
Sanja Lovrenčić: „Martins Saiten“
2007
Georg Petz: „Die unstillbare Wut“
Marcus Poettler: „fallen“
Mountainfilm Graz
With Mountainfilm Graz, Steiermärkische Sparkasse is once again supporting a fixture in Graz's cultural calendar. Every year, the Mountainfilm Festival brings mountain sports and nature enthusiasts from Austria and abroad to Graz to discuss the mountain and adventure films shown. There are also talks by well-known mountaineers and alpinists, and lectures by filmmakers for the next generation of film enthusiasts. As part of the international film competition, all prize-winning films will be presented at the “Long Night of Mountain Film”.
folk.art Festival
The folk.art Festival is a festival for world music and stands for diversity, the combination of tradition and modernity, the exchange of ideas and thoughts and, above all, enjoying cultural life. Be it listening to music or making music at a workshop. For Steiermärkische Sparkasse, diversity in the company is lived practice. By supporting folk.art, we are committed to working together....... because “diversity brings benefits”!
musikabendeGRAZ (Musical Evenings in Graz)
The long-running chamber music concert series consists of four concerts in the Chamber Music Hall (Congress Graz) with piano and classical chamber music ensembles. Year after year, musikabendeGRAZ brings internationally renowned artists to the Styrian capital. Steiermärkische Sparkasse became a partner of musikabendeGraz for the first time in 2020 and eagerly awaits these wonderful evenings.
Metamorphose (Metamorphosis)
The cultural initiative Metamorphose allows current and socially relevant aspects to resonate in the performances of chamber music and offers listeners the opportunity to exchange ideas after each concert in a discussion round (Talk OnStage). The programme includes pieces of music that address topics such as climate change, environmental protection and sustainability. As Steiermärkische Sparkasse is as passionate about art and culture as it is about sustainability, it is a proud partner of Metamorphose.
Voices of Spirit
With Voices of Spirit, Steiermärkische Sparkasse supports one of the most important choir festivals in the German-speaking world. Voices of Spirit presents itself with classical concerts, public choir performances, choir exchanges and an extensive education and training programme. Every year, the festival also welcomes internationally renowned artists as its artists in residence.
Fine Crime
The Graz Festival of Crime Fiction invites you to experience the world of crime fiction up close in the form of readings, lectures, and discussions with experts from the field of criminology. Fine Crime not only offers a stage to renowned bestselling authors, but also gives up-and-coming regional talent the chance to present themselves. Steiermärkische Sparkasse is committed to supporting young Styrian authors on their path and therefore launched the “Steiermärkische Sparkasse Fine Crime Newcomer Award” in 2023.
Dramatiker:innenfestival (The Playwright’s Festival)
The playwrights' festival is already an annual cultural fixture in Graz. It enables playwrights of all ages and backgrounds to meet and exchange ideas about various topics and their work. Theatre performances, discussions, readings and other events take place over the course of several days in Graz. Steiermärkische Sparkasse shares the aspiration to accompany people in this complex world and has been supporting the festival since 2020.
vokal.total
Every year, the international a cappella festival vokal.total presents professional vocal ensembles from all over the world and contributes to the diversity of the art and culture scene in Graz. Diversity in culture and in our own company is of great importance to Steiermärkische Sparkasse, and we are delighted to support the festival as a sponsor.
Summer Concerts in Graz — Spielfelder Kulturtage
Steiermärkische Sparkasse promotes culture in all regions of Styria and is this year's sponsor of the Spielfelder Kulturtage.
Every year, the Association of Summer Concerts in Graz organises the Spielfelder Kulturtage. In addition to top-class orchestral concerts, an orchestra academy is organised in cooperation with the Johann Josef Fux Conservatory and the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz. The programme also offers a wide range of educational activities for children.
Komödie Graz
Culture, humour and great entertainment are on the agenda at Komödie Graz. The theatre presents in-house productions such as Charley's Aunt, as well as guest performances with renowned artists. Komödie Graz is supported by Steiermärkische Sparkasse.
Museum Murtal
The Museum Murtal embarks on an exciting journey into the Iron Age with its visitors. Immerse yourself in history and learn more about the finds from the burial mounds in Strettweg, which are up to 3000 years old.
The museum rooms in one of Judenburg's oldest buildings have been adapted thanks to the support of the Steiermärkische Sparkasse.