Hand.Werk.Stadt Creative Festival
The Hand.Werk.Stadt. creative festival has officially begun. We at QueerSalzburg had the opportunity to take part in three different events as part of the festival and explore a variety of crafts. From the talent for skilfully putting words down on paper and reciting them, to a guided tour of the picturesque Kaiviertel district with its rich craft heritage, right through to a particularly sweet form of craftsmanship.
Our first stop was also the official opening event of Hand.Werk.Stadt. At the poetry slam ‘Einfach der Hammer’ at Szene Salzburg, hosted by Lukas Wagner, six young talents (all under the age of 20) shared their personal thoughts on the theme of craftsmanship with the audience. A tribute to those who, for many decades, have been passing on skills and traditional craftsmanship to the next generation and bringing the Salzburg Old Town to life.
The two finalists, Sarah and Paul, impressed the audience so much that they were both declared the winners of the evening. All six poets were rewarded with lollipops, fresh from the Salzburg confectionery workshop (see below).
Kaiviertel „Dreierlei“
For centuries, entrepreneurs and craftspeople have been going about their daily work in the Kaiviertel. In keeping with this historic location, we got to know three different businesses as part of the ‘Dreierlei’ guided tour of the Kaiviertel.
The first to take the floor was the Martina Mühlfellner Art Studio. Master craftswoman Martina spoke about her philosophy on jewellery: “For me, jewellery is a daily joy – for example, when I look at my ring or my necklace.”
We then moved on to Lederwaren Hladik. At Hladik, a wide variety of leathers have been crafted for four generations. From everyday leathers such as cowhide to more exotic varieties such as sturgeon, snake or ostrich leather.
The tour ended at The Living Store. Here you’ll find hundreds of picture frame designs in every colour and pattern imaginable. “We take care of everything when we receive a picture – from bespoke framing to the right type of glazing. We even throw in the nail for hanging it up,” jokes the owner, Alexander Chaloupka.
We find the sweet finale to our Hand.Werk.Stadt journey at the Salzburg Confectionery Workshop. There, the confectioners are reviving a centuries-old craft. With a keen sense of temperature, perfect timing and deft hands, Natalie cooked the sugar mixture, kneaded it into the right shape, coloured the sugar and, to finish, conjured up little rainbow hearts.
Watching Natalie at work was truly impressive. Her skill was particularly evident when she was working with the dough hook, and she broadened everyone’s horizons when it came to baking.
When asked what makes this sweet craft so special to her, Natalie replies: “You never stop learning. The craft of confectionery is so old, yet I’m always learning something new. Here, we can simply show people just what’s possible with sugar.”
Text and photos: Sebastian Brandstätter
The Hand.Werk.Stadt. festival runs until 25 April. The festival programme can be found here.
Priscilla – Queen of the Desert
The film and musical ‘Priscilla – Queen of the Desert’ tell the story of two drag queens, Mitzi and Felicia, and a trans woman, Bernadette, who travel through the Australian outback in an ageing bus called ‘Priscilla’ to put on a show in Alice Springs. The musical will premiere at the Salzburg State Theatre on 6 December 2025, directed by Ramesh Nair. [Read more]
Salzburg: A Drag Hotspot
Compared to major cities such as Vienna, Munich or Berlin, Salzburg, with its population of just under 160,000, is a relatively small city. What is certainly not small in Salzburg, however, is the city’s drag scene, which has been establishing itself in the city of Mozart for more than five years. We explore why Salzburg can call itself a drag stronghold and what motivates the artists. [Read more]
Elisabeth Fuchs
Elisabeth Fuchs founded the Salzburg Philharmonic 25 years ago and has been its principal conductor ever since. Over the years, she has built up a wide-ranging musical network – from young children at the Children’s Festival to the professional musicians in the Philharmonic. We spoke to her about her artistic work and about “A Symphonic Tribute to Michael Jackson”, which Fuchs will conduct as principal conductor in May. [Read more]
DomquartierI gladly recommend a visit to the Domquartier in museum …
Den Salzburg Queer Guide für die LGBT community gibt‘s in gedruckter Form in den Brunos Stores in Berlin, Hamburg, Köln und München. Oder hier bestellen und per Post ins Haus kommen lassen. Hier geht‘s zum E-paper.
Priscilla – Queen of the Desert
The film and musical ‘Priscilla – Queen of the Desert’ tell the story of two drag queens, Mitzi and Felicia, and a trans woman, Bernadette, who travel...
Frida’s world
Frida Kahlo was a Mexican artist who painted many self-portraits due to her painful life story. As a Marxist, she was an important voice in political...
Queer city tour Salzburg
As in other European metropolises such as Berlin, Vienna or London, there are also queer city tours in Salzburg. These take you to places where homose...
Salzburg Queer Update
Saturday 21 April 2026 is the perfect day for a stroll and a spot of shopping – most people have the day off. Salzburg’s Old Town provides the ideal s...
