The Art City of Brande
The fact that an art bienniale is now taking root in Brande is no coincidence. Brande is well-known for its abundant open-air art, diversity, cultural richness, and artistic engagement. Therefore, the mid-Jutland town will provide the perfect setting for unique and enriching art experiences for both artists and the audience.
Since the creation of the spectacular mural paintings in 1968, art has never let go of the town, where it enjoys strong local support. Art constitutes a completely natural part of the cityscape – something the city’s residents have grown up with.
In 1969, Brande was named “City of the Year in Denmark,” and in 1970, the mural paintings were followed by five Nordic gables. Events such as Swinging Europe, the International Art Workshop from 1993 to 2010, and the highly visited Street Art festivals since 2015 have truly put the town on the artistic map. Thus, a strong tradition of art in the open space has been established in Brande. Today, art is an integral part of the cityscape, and the numerous artworks in the open air, accessible round the clock, annually attract a large number of visitors to Brande.
Brande, from heathland to art city and innovative business area
Brande was founded on meager farmland where hard work was required to support a family on the original heathland. This industrious spirit can be seen throughout the town’s proud history over time, where the small heathland town grew large with the arrival of industries such as textiles, potato starch, and skilled craftsmen – aided by the town’s new status as a railway hub and the coal adventure from 1940 to 1970. In the years around World War II, Brande was Denmark’s largest railway freight station – measured by tonnage.
Innovation and entrepreneurship have also characterized the town over the years. Besides art, Brande and its surroundings are also widely known for innovation and entrepreneurship. The small railway station town has thus become the home of several large and successful international companies in fields such as green energy, textile industry, food ingredients, fish feed, steel production, organic farming, etc.
With Brande Biennale, it is our ambition – in the long term – to bring art events closer to the companies by creating the framework for artistic collaborations.