Göteborgs Konserthus Culture Night: Handshakes and backslaps – what happened to the Gothenburg spirit?

We received a note after the last Culture Night that read:

“Ten or fifteen years ago, there was a great deal of talk about the distinctive Gothenburg spirit and how it influenced the exercise of power in the city. One question I have is what has happened since Göran Johansson passed away. Is there still something that could be called a Gothenburg spirit, what does it look like today, and who might be part of it?”
/Ann-Charlotte, from the audience

So what is the Gothenburg spirit, really? Is it something to be proud of? Was the spirit of the past a strength – a way for those in power to agree on what was best for the city, regardless of party politics? Or was it all just a façade, when close cooperation between politics and business was later exposed as a bribery and corruption scandal? And what role does culture play in a healthy Gothenburg spirit? Who helps to create a good Gothenburg spirit?

This evening, we take on the Gothenburg spirit of today – come with your head held high, or with a cushion to hide behind. Our hope, either way, is to leave Stenhammar Chamber Hall with a clearer sense of how the Gothenburg spirit has evolved and what it seeks to achieve.

Guests: Joel Ighe – club impresario who has returned to Gothenburg after years in Stockholm; Janne Josefsson – the legendary journalist who exposed the bribery scandal in Gothenburg; and Linda Zachrisson – Artistic Director of Gothenburg City Theatre. The conversation is moderated by Johan Hilton, author and Culture Editor at GP.

At Culture Night we take a look at Gothenburg’s cultural life. With exciting guests and challenging ideas, we look beyond the borders and see the possibilities. Join us!