Kulturcafé Max in Hernals about to close: What comes after Shizzle?

Kulturcafé Max in Hernals about to close: What comes after Shizzle?

Significant change is imminent in the Hernal district: The Kulturcafé Max, a central location for art and culture, must let go of its tenant, the “Shizzle” association, by the end of 2025. This move comes after the café has served as an important focal point for cultural events and creative exchanges since 2018. Joana Marialena Karácsonyi, the chairwoman of “Shizzle”, has already announced a general meeting at which changes to the board will be decided - although this will only come into force from 2026. There is already concern among Hernals art and culture professionals: Will the Kulturcafé Max, which was revived as an initiative project in 2018, actually come to an end after moving out?

The Kulturcafé Max was more than just a café; it was a lively space that hosted numerous events. From art exhibitions to readings to performances – the in-house program and the hosting events were extremely diverse. However, the plan to establish the café as a regular event location with a continuous offering failed. There will no longer be a permanent catering business, as meinbezirk.at reports.

Cultural heritage and the future

Despite the club's imminent move out, some events are still planned until the end of the year; a total of 20 free events are to be organized by Shizzle. These offer the community once again the opportunity to use the space and take part in cultural life in Hernals. The program for 2024 is already in the works, but a new home for the club has not yet been found, which increases the uncertainty about the future of culture in this district.

The Kulturcafé Max was not only an event location, but also a creative center. Since its founding, the Shizzle association has promoted a wide variety of art forms and invited local artists to present their works. The café was also active as part of the Forum Kulturnetz Hernals under the direction of Shizzle and offered space for workshops, discussions and cultural exchange, which had a lasting impact on the community. The club's departure is therefore seen as a great loss for the cultural environment.

The setbacks that the Kulturcafé has experienced are particularly hard for the many artists who found a platform there. From “Wandering Pictures”, an art demonstration that moved through the streets of Hernal, to numerous collaborations with local actors – the community connections could not be completely lost. The exchange between the various initiatives is strong, and perhaps it will be possible to continue cultural projects in new ways.

Given the challenges facing the cultural scene in Hernals, many hope that a solution will be found. The commitment of the Shizzle association could not only be continued, but also revived in a new form. So it remains to be seen how the situation around the Kulturcafé Max will develop and whether the place for culture and art will get a new chance in the future.

For more information about the latest events or the Shizzle association itself, it's worth taking a look at their website shizzle-kultur.at.