denk.Mal – Creative Culture Festival

A creative culture festival in the Vinschgau Valley

The denk.Mal – Creative Culture Festival is one of the most original events on the South Tyrolean cultural scene. It takes place every May in Silandro/Schlanders, the main town of the Vinschgau Valley, within the grounds of BASIS Vinschgau Venosta, an expansive creative reuse project developed on the site of the former Drusus barracks. For three days, the festival transforms disused buildings and courtyards into an open-air laboratory where art, craftsmanship, design, music, and technology converge.

A transdisciplinary format

Launched in 2021, denk.Mal is designed as a bridge between different disciplines. Its name plays on the German word Denkmal (monument) and the invitation to «think» (denk mal!): a call to reflect on the site's past, present, and future, as well as the meaning of reuse and sustainability. The programme alternates between theatrical performances, live shows, concerts, installations, exhibitions, workshops for children and adults, panel discussions, and clubbing nights, providing a platform for both emerging artists and local initiatives.

The venues

The festival spans several locations across the town: the opening night at the Kulturhaus Schlanders, the night of performances and clubbing at the KASINO Kulturclub, and the grand finale day at BASIS Schlanders. The latter is open to all generations, featuring street music, art, family-friendly programming, and food and drink.

Themes and commitment

Each edition revolves around a central theme that permeates the entire programme. denk.Mal dedicates significant space to social and environmental issues, hosting networks and associations active in anti-violence, ecology, inclusion, and human rights. It is a participatory festival, featuring a «pay-what-you-can» contribution for the main day, reflecting BASIS's vocation as an open and accessible cultural space.

A landmark for the Vinschgau Valley and South Tyrol

Located in the municipality of Silandro, in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano (Trentino-South Tyrol), denk.Mal has become a reference point for the creative scene in the Vinschgau Valley and throughout South Tyrol. It offers visitors the chance to discover a different approach to creativity in a striking alpine setting, just a short distance from the Swiss and Austrian borders.