Guiding principles
Trafó House of Contemporary Arts in Budapest is a receptive venue unique in Hungary, and is also a cornerstone of the international contemporary arts scene, showcasing various genres – theatre, dance, new circus, music and visual arts – in a unique and authentic manner.
The venue’s professional programme of events, presented in a post-industrial space, is based on a unified, yet diverse approach. Experimental and audience-friendly at the same time, and inspired by new innovations as well as cultural heritage, it provides a space for the presentation of work by both domestic Hungarian and international artists.
Trafó is a forum dedicated to social issues, and a platform for establishing values and contexts as well as generating new ideas and productions. Its performances, concerts, exhibitions, and community and audience-building programmes, while focusing on younger generations, are accessible to members of any generation who are looking for something new.
Building and facilities
The transformer station at Liliom Street was built in 1909. It has the original industrial Hungarian Art Noveau style. The building that has been abandoned for more than 40 years was occupied in 1991 by a French anarchist collective called Rézonances occupied the building and for a while it functioned as a squatted house, on a half-illegal basis. Performances, concerts, fine art happenings were held in the venue in great numbers. Next year the Budapest City Council bought the building with leftover funds from the unrealized World Expo in which the Trafó House of Contemporary Arts was established, as a successor of the Andrássy Avenue Young Artists’ Club (FMK). The Trafó House of Contemporary Arts opened its gates during the 1998 Budapest Autumn Festival with a piece by Yvette Bozsik.
The industrial hall could convert it into a suitable, multifunctional, well equipped contemporary arts center appropriate for the current times. It is a non-traditional theater, an inclusive contemporary art space, complete with gallery organizing brave and high quality exhibitions. Instead of having its own troupe, it provides an opportunity for independent troupes that do not have a permanent venue to play at.Trafó is not afraid to introduce audiovisual musical theater or digital performances, either.
