Status: 29.11.2023, 19:00 PM
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The inspiration for the installation 1300 (picture) comes from the partner municipality of San Candido, which hosted its 2019th anniversary celebration in 1250 and had an anniversary number drawn up. © VISUALISATION: FIEDLER UND PARTNER
Partnership consultant Anton Frankl comments on the "1300" art installation. It is currently stirring the minds of the city fathers and mothers
Freising – Four red, oversized numbers on Freising's Marienplatz: The majority of the planning committee had actually recently raised its hand for this art installation. The inspiration for this idea for the upcoming festive year in 2024 comes from the partner municipality of San Candido: The small town in South Tyrol invited a delegation from Freising to the 2019th anniversary celebration in 1250. The attraction at the time: an oversized anniversary number on the market square. The people of Freising were so impressed by this that the steering committee, which is dealing with the preparations for the celebrations "1300 years of Korbinian in Freising", decided on something very similar: a walk-in work of art made of a sheet steel construction, which should be set up on a large foundation for safety and stability reasons and also serve as a background for selfies. After heated debates about the costs – 45,000 euros were on the table – the building and planning committee approved it by a majority in mid-November. Now, however, the city council still has to discuss it, the approval is off the table. Because the Greens, the Left and the FDP in the city council have complained about the decision.
Partnership consultant Anton Frankl (FSM), who was there in San Candido at the time and who had voted for the installation, explains in the FT interview why it urgently needs to be cheaper, but Freising cannot withdraw completely and let the diocese host the entire festival.
Anton Frankl (FSM) explains his stance on the red "1300". © Archive FT
Mr. Frankl, you were there at the time as a partnership consultant in San Candido, who had installed a 1250 on their marketplace. How did that go down with people?
Just great. If you wanted to use the installation as a photo backdrop, you even had to queue. That was a real attraction. And it also made a difference. That's why the idea arose at the time to implement this in Freising, and we decided to do so in the steering group – and recently the planning committee also agreed.
What do you think about the fact that we now have to talk about it again and vote because of the complaints from the Left Party, the Greens and the FDP?
It doesn't hurt to talk about it again. Now it's also a matter of getting understanding for it. Because, to be honest, 45,000 euros is too expensive even for me. This is difficult to convey to the public in our current budgetary situation.
But you agreed in the planning committee.
If we had all been against it, the issue would have been off the table. This must now be investigated and the cost of the "1300" must be significantly reduced. It was an initial cost estimate without having obtained quotes from craftsmen. I think it's definitely cheaper.
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Do you think that the city has a duty to spend money on this special occasion? Or should Freising sit back and let the archdiocese do its thing?
The city must participate in the festival in the same way that associations, private individuals and, above all, the diocese do. We always write Korbinian on Freising's flags, then we should celebrate such a big anniversary appropriately. The emphasis is on appropriate – without luxury, without exaggerating. Bavarian, down-to-earth.
So cancelling the festival due to the budget situation would send the wrong signal?
The completely wrong signal. And for several reasons. We are currently living in such crazy times. Many are still shaken by Corona, all wars in the world. I'm not the only one who is very worried about what's in store for us, our children and grandchildren. We should take advantage of this beautiful occasion to be able to come together together in the coming year in a carefree way. The last time this festival was celebrated was in 1924. There was the currency reform and the people were not doing well. But they still didn't let this celebration be taken away from them. And even then, nothing was pompous. And one thing should not be forgotten: We all have the opportunity for this festival for 100 years, not every generation can celebrate it. And we can't afford not to do it. Too much preparatory work has already been done, the planning has been going on for well over a year.
Interview: Andrea Beschorner