Anticipated Attendance of 40,000 Art Enthusiasts - Enthusiasts of art anticipated to reach 40,000 at the "Cultural Soiree" event
Cultural Countryside Party Draws 40,000 Art Enthusiasts to Wendland Region
As the 36th edition of the "Cultural Countryside Party" (KLP) approaches, the Wendland region prepares to welcome around 40,000 art lovers from Ascension Day to Pentecost. Known for its political undertones and focus on combating right-wing extremism, this annual celebration has become a significant cultural event in rural Germany.
The KLP began as a grassroots initiative in 1980, initially a protest against nuclear industrialization and developments threatening the region, such as the Gorleben nuclear waste repository. Over the decades, it has evolved into a three-week-long cultural festival, featuring hundreds of art installations, performances, exhibitions, and workshops.
This year, the event's motto, "Solidarity. Diverse. Standing up against the Right!", reflects the organizers' ongoing commitment to addressing the growing presence of right-wing extremism in the district of Lüchow-Dannenberg. The guide for hundreds of actions warns of the continued possibility for far-right infiltration in the form of "reichsbürger, right-wing hooligans, or settler families" buying up farms.
In response, the festival features numerous exhibits, performances, and lectures addressing right-wing extremism. The organizers assert that Wendland, originally a conservative area, has seen an increase in far-right settlers appearing openly in schools, kindergartens, and fire departments.
The cultural event boosts local tourism significantly, with restaurants, hotels, and gastronomes fully booked well in advance. While truck traffic has increased due to visitors coming by car, bicycle rentals for train travelers are available at some locations for 10 euros per day.
In addition to the KLP, Gorleben will see a political Friday (June 6) near the mine, with critical actions against the interim storage of 113 highly radioactive Castor containers. The citizens' initiative demands better protection of the hall, among other things. Elsewhere in Lübeln, the Wendlandleben agency and the nature park are organizing a job fair under the slogan "Turn Vacation into Life."
The organizers remind visitors to practice good manners, such as not leaving trash bags in front yards, avoiding bike traffic jams on country roads, and not blocking driveway entrances. Although life and work continue as normal during the event, especially in agriculture, the vibrant energy of the KLP has earned Wendland a reputation as a unique cultural destination.
- The employment policy in Wendland, as evidenced by the job fair "Wendlandleben agency and the nature park" under the slogan "Turn Vacation into Life," seems to be closely aligned with the area's burgeoning cultural and tourism industries.
- Despite the influx of art enthusiasts during the Cultural Countryside Party (KLP), attendees are encouraged to follow the community policy of respectful behavior, such as minimizing littering, avoiding bike traffic jams on country roads, and staying considerate of local residents and their property.
