Antigel 2017 - Light my fire!


They’re back! The top names, the decibels, the dance shows, the special projects, the challenges, the partner municipalities, the passion that tears through the thick fog, the sound madness that warms up the city at the tip of the lake every year, and you of course! A 7th festival, mature yet far from the age of reason, mooring its unique artistic flagship in the cultural effervescence of Europe.

Since 2011, Antigel has endeavoured to design a singularly unique artistic project, visiting 36 out of the 45 municipalities in the Canton of Geneva over six years. Firmly rooted in the hearts of Geneva’s inhabitants and with the key support of the ACG (the Association of Geneva Municipalities), the festival reasserts its role as a major local galvaniser. Working hand-in-hand with municipalities and engaging local stakeholders, the festival will this year offer a 24-day artistic journey through 22 municipalities featuring 104 shows spread across 40 venues. Antigel has now become a festival that radiates boldness beyond its borders.

Boldness that is artistic, of course, as well as social and urbanistic, because Antigel echoes its own surroundings and upholds the spirit of openness of a gutsy region. Since 2015, Antigel-made cultural projects have accompanied the development process of the Pont-Rouge neighbourhood and the PAV project. In 2017, thanks to the invaluable support of CFF (Swiss Federal Railways), Grand Central will be back in Pont-Rouge, marking a further stage in the transformation of this neighbourhood.

Intense artistic momentum is at the heart of Antigel and its desire to share with you! A sense of sincerity and liberty echoed by both Patti Smith, our dedicated godmother who is finally returning, and also by all the tantalising projects of this 7th festival: The Monstrous Parade, Moderat’s mesmerising minimal techno, Maguy Marin’s genius, and Virginie Despentes’ wrought-iron words will arouse the interest of the whole family from 27 January to 19 February 2017.


Thuy-San Dinh & Eric Linder