Elevate Festival - Music, Art and political Discourse

Festival Theme: Human Nature

Is the climate mankind's greatest challenge? Or is it not rather man himself? The Elevate Festival 2020 raises the central question of the relationship between humans, nature and technological development. While millions of young people around the world are demanding a paradigm shift, the effects of political inaction are experienced by millions more, suffering from it. There is not much time left. Science unanimously warns against climatic tipping effects.

But what can you do? What can we do? Besides talking, we can choose to act. We can inform ourselves and find ways to engage, interact and activate people around us. At Elevate 2020 “Human Nature” is the thematic framework for an inspiring, diverse and thought-provoking festival experience of music, art and political discourse.
 

Creative Europe projects "We Are Europe" and "Re-Imagine Europe"

In 2020, the pan-European festival cooperation We Are Europe will once again bring major festivals to Elevate in Graz: co-curations with partner festivals from Cologne (c/o pop) and Lyon (European Lab/Nuits Sonores) will enrich the programme and attract additional international attention. Both in the field of music and art as well as in discourse, the partners work together on content and will invite outstanding artists and lecturers to Graz.

Behind Re-Imagine Europe runs a Europe-wide art production and presentation project through which interdisciplinary festivals such as Sonic Acts in Amsterdam or centresfor contemporary art such as the Bergen Kunsthall jointly develop programmes. Since 2014, the Elevate team has played a leading role in the development of this multi-year transnational art project. The project started in 2018. The upcoming Elevate Festival will see the next round of events. Until 2021, it will be possible to link art with science and political discourse at various locations in Europe. Thanks to Elevate, Graz is one of the hotspots of Re-Imagine Europe.