Entertainment Street art back in La Chaux-de-Fonds after last year's storm
Street art is back in La Chaux-de-Fonds NE. After a one-year hiatus, the Plage des Six Pompes festival is celebrating a comeback. The event was canceled in 2023. The reason was the devastating storm that hit the town.
"Back on the streets!" is the motto of this year's edition of La Plage des Six Pompes to mark the restart. As has always been the case in street art, the same applies here: You throw a few coins into the hat.
However, payment is not only made in cash: You can also pay your fee via cell phone app or the website. Around 50 Swiss and international theater, dance and aerial circus groups are expected at the festival. It began on Tuesday and will run for six days.
After last year's storm, the 2024 festival is a little different to previous editions. Due to construction work on the market square in La Chaux-de-Fonds, where the festival was previously held, La Plage des Six Pompes is moving to the Beau-Site garden, next to the Théâtre populaire romand (TPR). One or two performances will take place there every day.
The program includes the French theater group Les Fugaces with "La Ronde" - a production that is likely to bring back memories of the audience's youth. There will also be "Terrain vague" by Sept fois la langue. The two artists live in La Chaux-de-Fonds. They have settled in the watchmaking town because it has made a name for itself in connection with street art.
Future first Swiss Capital of Culture
Federal Councillor and Minister of Culture Elisabeth Baume-Schneider attended the opening of the festival. She explained that, as a woman from the Franches-Montagnes, she was connected to the event. She had already attended the performances several times.
Baume-Schneider praised the resilience of the festival, which survived the devastating storm with a year's interruption. The authorities of the watchmaking city and the canton of Neuchâtel welcomed the Federal Councillor for an informal meeting.
The visit of the head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA) to La Chaux-de-Fonds is of significance beyond the festival, as the city would like to become the first Swiss Capital of Culture in 2027. The Council of States was the first chamber to approve the introduction of Swiss Capitals of Culture when discussing the cultural dispatch in the summer session.
SDA
