Hof subculture
Diverse and indispensable
Not only the "high culture" with the Hof Symphony Orchestra and the Theater Hof at the top is firmly anchored in the city on the Saale, but also the "subculture", the independent cultural scene has grown and blossomed more and more in recent years.
While the Galeriehaus has been around for many years and the IN.DIE.musik Festival has also existed since 2007, the rest of the independent cultural scene in Hof is very young. For many years, one had the impression that there was no interest in this cultural sector, but then a lot happened. The topic is of course gladly promoted from the area of municipal culture, entirely according to the possibilities available to the city administration. Cultural work in this area means that, for this purpose, one sits down again and again with the makers who know the scene and supports them according to their special needs.
Sophienberg Gallery House
The Galeriehaus am Sophienberg is a cornerstone of Hof's independent cultural scene: Not only is it located in one of Hof's oldest houses, but it is also the nucleus of the Hof Film Festival around the former landlord Werner Weinelt. Today, the gallery house is owned by the Cinecenter Hof e.V. association, but of course it still has more than just offers for cineastes: concerts, readings, theater and exhibitions for small audiences, which often cover niches, take place there - similar to the Kunstkaufhaus on Königsstraße, which, however, focuses more on musical events and theater.
"It's really great what the operators make possible: Again and again they use their contacts and bring big names of the independent scene to Hof - and that with manageable effort and at reasonable prices!" - Peter Nürmberger, Head of the Cultural Office
IN.DIE.music festival
Since 2007, the IN.DIE.musik Festival has taken place every year in Hof. With around 2,000 visitors, it is a small but fine festival that comes up with a top-class indie lineup every year.
Every two years, the city of Hof offers the young band scene a huge stage as part of the YourStage Festival: In the Großes Haus of the Freiheitshalle, the hottest up-and-coming bands in the scene come together at this festival and have the opportunity to present themselves on several stages.
The Alte Filzfabrik provides band practice rooms in the dimensions of a large city. And for that you need people from the scene who are close to it - and the city has brought them on board, because the city can only promote while the active people manage this band location.
"The Pelle"
Completely free is the off-theater group "Die Pelle", which has previously played at the Kunstkaufhaus, the Galeriehaus and the Awalla project. Die Pelle e.V. is a free theater in the tradition of the alternative Hof Theater K (1983 - 2008). Founded in 2017, the non-profit association brings elements from film, television, gaming, dance, club culture and performance to the analog stage.
