Tradition meets the future: Bludenz celebrates 50 years of Wige with exhibition!

Tradition meets the future: Bludenz celebrates 50 years of Wige with exhibition!

On July 2, 2025, the Bludenz (Wige) Economic Community celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special event in the historic old town. On this occasion, an important small exhibition in the Bludenz City Archives was opened, in which the focus is on the tradition and history of local businesses. The exhibition was promoted by the initiative Culture Connected and offers visitors an impressive insight into the economic development of the city.

The pupils of the 4B HAK brought themselves into the project with a lot of commitment and introduced five traditional companies. Under the direction of Klaudia Tschavoll, the school groups presented their research and conducted interviews with older owners in order to bring the history of these companies to life. The information collected can not only be seen in the city archive, but also exhibited in the shop windows of the old town. A journey through time is made possible by the city's shop windows, which appeals to the passing citizens directly.

celebrations and special guests

At the opening of the exhibition, historians Christof Thöny and Wige chairman Hanno Fuchs welcomed numerous guests in the Bludenz City Museum. Among those present were also active and former officials of the Wige, who reported on their experiences and successes. Kurt Reutterer (1987–1990), Günter Dünfründt (1992–1996), Inge Naier (1996–2006), Alexander Plakolm (2007–2011) and the reigning Hanno Fuchs (since 2014) look back on a successful history. Adriane Vonbank has also held the office of cashier since 2023 and is an important part of the association.

The Wige was founded in November 1975 to relieve the city center from heavy traffic. A first step was to introduce a pedestrian zone that still makes a central contribution to the revitalization of the old town. The upgrading of traditional companies remains a central concern of the community and is actively promoted by such exhibitions.

cities in change

The event and the associated exhibition take a look at the changes of urban rooms. As bpb , cities are social organisms that are constantly changing and building historical layers. The mixture of old and new buildings shows how the cityscape has developed over the years. This dynamic can also be felt in Bludenz, where the Wige makes a contribution to positive development with its commitment to local businesses and the revitalization of the city.

The small exhibition and the associated aspects of urban development are a nice example of how tradition and innovation can be reconciled. It remains to be hoped that such initiatives will continue to make the old town even more lively and more attractive in the future, so that they remain a place of encounter and exchange for all Bludenzer.