Having been concerned within the manufacturing of round 850 live shows throughout her three-and-a-half-year tenure as Head of Workplace and Manufacturing on the Unterfahrt jazz membership, Anna-Marie Schluifelder has already had a big affect on cultural life in Munich, and on the rising profile of town’s jazz scene specifically. Colleagues and buddies converse of an extremely hard-working and efficient one that is selfless in her help of the scene and the musicians. Since October 2022, Schluifelder has been a part of the workforce behind a significant new cultural venture, the Bergson Kunstkraftwerk in Aubing on the western outskirts of Munich, which is able to open in April as a “distinctive venue for live shows, artwork, gastronomy and occasions”. Interview for Worldwide Ladies’s Day by Sebastian Scotney.

LJN: Was there a second whenever you knew that being accountable for stay occasions could be an necessary a part of your life?

AMS: Sure, that was in January 2006, after I was given the good alternative to change into head of the occasions division of a widely known vacationer vacation spot in Bavaria (Dangerous Wörishofen, 80km from Munich). Music and live shows have at all times been crucial to me. Professionally, nonetheless, the love for it truly got here via doing this. It was completely loopy, as a result of I turned the pinnacle of a municipal occasions workplace on the age of simply 22 with out ever having organised an occasion earlier than. I had educated as a journalist, so it was a whole profession change, studying by doing. I stayed for 13 years. We organised over 3,000 occasions there yearly and the cultural programme was crucial to town. That was my “large faculty” the place I had the possibility to study, and I’m infinitely grateful to have had the chance.

LJN: And was jazz at all times there… or did it come abruptly?

AMS: In 2006, I wasn’t but an avowed jazz fan, however I used to be an enormous blues fan. There was additionally a jazz pageant in Dangerous Wörishofen – there’s an exquisite previous cinema there, that was the venue.

The pageant was launched in 1991 by residents on a non-public initiative, however the metropolis administration supported the venture from the very starting. As head of the occasions division, I used to be subsequently a part of the “jazz working group”. I met great individuals, was welcomed with open arms, learnt lots, however was additionally allowed to contribute lots. The pageant – and jazz – turned a venture near my coronary heart. The pageant founder Horst Fröhlich continues to be certainly one of my greatest buddies right this moment and I owe him an awesome deal; we have now organised 13 festivals collectively.

LJN: For readers who don’t know the Munich jazz scene: What have been the main developments in recent times?

AMS: I’ve been bowled over by the way in which the younger scene has developed. I used to be fortunate sufficient to satisfy many college students from the Jazz Institute of the Munich College of Music and Theatre on the Unterfahrt. And I’m very pleased to have the ability to see how these nice skills are efficiently making their means. Shuteen Erdenebaatar, for instance, Nils Kugelmann, Alma Naidu, Enji Erkhem… and plenty of others.

Not but a subscriber of our Wednesday Breakfast Headlines?
Be a part of the mailing checklist for a weekly roundup of Jazz Information.

I want to see the Munich scene obtain extra consideration general. And perhaps we are able to make a contribution with Bergson.

LJN: Folks in your place develop a “sixth sense” for what might go improper and be sure that issues go proper… Is there an instance you’re pleased with?

AMS: Ha, sure, that’s actually true! While you organise stay live shows with internationally touring musicians on a really common foundation, issues occur. You possibly can solely plan forward and create the proper circumstances, you possibly can’t calculate what occurs spontaneously. Each organiser is aware of that. It’s necessary to maintain a cool head and discover options, to assume exterior the field every so often. And, above all, to concentrate to all of the little issues upfront in order that the artists have it as straightforward as potential, really feel comfy and may play a profitable gig. I feel that makes all of the distinction. I’m excellent at that and I’m pleased with it.

LJN: What’s Bergson?

AMS: Bergson Kunstkraftwerk (artwork energy station) is a spectacular, model new venue in Munich and a private-sector initiative. Our base is an previous heating plant from the Nineteen Twenties. A formidable, lovely constructing that the homeowners have transformed and devoted to tradition. The intention is to create a cultural centre of gravity, a spot the place tradition will be introduced and skilled in another way. We make or organise all of the music that occurs there ourselves. On the one hand, we have now the Jazzrausch Bigband as our resident band. We have now additionally constructed up a roster of 100 native jazz and classical musicians, the Bergson Artists, who will be skilled in our personal productions. And we provide a stage to bands that we expect are actually good.

LJN: And describe your function and why you want being there.

AMS: I’m accountable for reserving and I run the creative operations workplace, so I’m additionally accountable for the organisation and clean processes.

Bergson brings collectively artwork, music, occasions and gastronomy in an architecturally thrilling constructing that could be very aesthetically pleasing and tastefully furnished. Along with all kinds of occasion rooms, we even have 2,000 sq. metres of gallery area within the constructing, in addition to our personal restaurant with a bar open all day, and a beer backyard. It combines many issues that imply lots to me personally. And the workforce is unimaginable!

LJN: Inform us about your hopes, goals…

AMS: I hope that the individuality of the venture receives the eye it deserves and that many individuals come to us. In order that the imaginative and prescient turns into a actuality and the arduous work and braveness are rewarded.

LJN: Is it true that the 2 individuals, Leo Betzl and Roman Sladek, who’re greatest identified for his or her work with the Jazzrausch Large Band, at the moment are your colleagues at Bergson? How will that work?

AMS: Leo Betzl is certainly one of our Bergson Artists, and subsequently he will probably be showing fairly a number of instances at our venues. And Roman Sladek is my boss, he’s the creative director and manages the enterprise of Bergson Kultur GmbH, which is accountable for the whole lot musical in the home. The entire venture is a non-public firm, we don’t obtain any public funding. On the similar time, Bergson is the brand new residence of his Jazzrausch Bigband. Roman pulls all of the strings, his workload is unimaginable. In any case, the large band additionally exists exterior the Bergson and excursions commonly. But when anybody can try this, it’s Roman!

LJN: What do you concentrate on Worldwide Ladies’s Day?

AMS: I feel that IWD is necessary, however to be sincere I haven’t had a lot of a private connection to it till now. That can actually change for me after this interview – and I hope that Worldwide Ladies’s Day can result in many such adjustments.
As you possibly can see in my particular case, it’s an awesome alternative to create and supply consideration and lift points that want elevating. These are issues that have to occur. Thanks for taking on the subject and for utilizing the day because the impetus to your interview collection.

LINK : Bergson web site and occasion itemizing