Aarhus Festuge (Aarhus Festival) is a 10-day arts and culture festival in the city of Aarhus, Denmark. It takes place annually in late August to early September (in weeks 35âÂÂ36).
The first Aarhus Festival was held in 1965, after being established the year before as an experiment to bring together and activate the city's institutions and associations. The overarching purpose was to present Aarhusâ cultural profile, based on the political idea that art, culture, and community are essential for a flourishing city. The festival was considered a great success, and it has been an annual tradition ever since.
From its origins in 1965, Aarhus Festuge has evolved into an internationally recognized festival. Artists from across the world have participated over the years, and it now features music, theatre, visual arts, and public performances.
With local and international artists, and events for all age groups, Aarhus Festival has grown to encompass around 1,000 events in 10 days, making it one of the largest cultural events in Northern Europe. The happenings span a broad range of cultural genres, including music, theatre, architecture, food, art installations, talks, and dancing, as well as general entertainment.
About one third of the events are planned and arranged by the Festival's head office, while the remaining two thirds are organised by private or external actors in the city. This structure allows Aarhus Festival to create a platform for creativity, development, and cooperation between the city's cultural actors, businesses, restaurants, venues, and associations.
Aarhus Festuge was established in 1964, debuted in September 1965, and has since then become one of the largest themed festivals in Northern Europe.
In 2014, Aarhus Festival took place from 29 August to 7 September. It was the festivals' 50th anniversary, and was marked with the theme âÂÂSame but differentâÂÂ.
Aarhus Festival always revolves around an overall theme, which is now used for three-year periods. The theme serves as a guideline and an inspiration for the events, and is visible in many aspects of the festival. The annual poster, which is created by a different artist each year, is the visual representation of the theme.
Similar cultural festivals are simultaneously held in some nearby cities. "Randers Ugen" has been celebrated in Randers since 1976 and "TrekantsomrÃÂ¥dets Festuge" since 2014 in the cities of Vejle, Fredericia and Kolding and surrounding smaller towns, collectively known as the Triangle Region.