We are a member of the Landesverband Soziokultur Niedersachsen.
The Cultural Center Pavillon
Welcome to the Cultural Center Pavillon. The Pavillon is an open meeting place near Hanover Central Station. Here, people discuss, exchange ideas, laugh and enjoy a wide variety of culture. Major cabaret and comedy events and concerts are just as much a part of the character of our venue as selected theatre productions, readings and political and socially critical events. Today, the Pavillon is one of the largest cultural institutions in the city and one of the oldest socio-cultural centres in Germany.
A venue with a history
The Cultural Center Pavillon is a building with an exciting, diverse and highly political past – this also applies to the site on which our cultural centre stands today. Until 1963, the site was home to Hanover’s court prison, where many people were imprisoned under cruel conditions during the National Socialist era. After the prison was demolished, the site lay derelict for a long time. The prison was followed by a branch of the DeFaKa department stores’ chain, which was soon relocated to the city centre. The striking flat-roofed building, which was known among citizens as the “Pavillon”, was to be demolished, against which an active movement was formed.
In 1976, the citizens’ initiative “Bürgerinitiative Raschplatz e. V.” was founded and campaigned for the preservation of the building and its conversion into a youth and cultural centre. After a dedicated fight, the citizens’ initiative received the first one-year utilisation contract from the state capital of Hanover in 1977. The “Cultural and Communication Center Pavillon” was opened on 23 September 1977. The Pavillon quickly became a popular venue for events for Hanoverians and inspired people with its attitude, political events and diverse cultural programme.
A modern new building for Hanover’s socioculture
Despite a number of major renovations, the building had to be completely refurbished and rebuilt in 2013 – this was financed by the state capital of Hanover, while the citizens’ initiative “Bürgerinitiative Raschplatz e. V.”contributed to the interior design with the help of the “Furnish us up!” fundraising campaign, among other things. On 21 January 2014, the building reopened for events as the “Cultural Center Pavillon” – with four stages, two group rooms and modern equipment. Unfortunately, the first floor has not yet been completed – unused space in the centre of Hanover.
Out of conviction for renewable energies and as a political statement, we erected a 400 square metre solar installation on the Pavillon roof in 2000, which is visible from afar.
Every year, around 1,000 events and meetings take place in the Pavillon, which are also realised together with partners – to this end, we cooperate with hundreds of groups, initiatives and institutions.
We are not only an open house in terms of content: the Pavillon is open to everyone on weekdays from 10 am to 6 pm. In the foyer, people can linger, work, meet, play and exchange ideas as well as use the internet and the sanitary facilities.
Discuss & participate – the philosophy of the Pavillon
Our roots stem from the critical examination of society, from the social movements of the 1970s and 1980s, from the women’s movement and resistance to nuclear technology and capitalist exploitation, from the peace movement of the time and from development policy engagement. Political events and campaigns have accompanied the Pavillon throughout its history – after all, this is also how our predecessors won the rights to use the Pavillon. We remain true to these ideals to this day and stand for respect, appreciation and respectful and discrimination-sensitive coexistence.
As a founding member of the Federal Association of Sociocultural Centres and as a member of the Lower Saxony Sociocultural Association, we see ourselves as a driving force in social discourse and want to accompany and help shape social change together with the people of Hanover and the region. At the same time, we see it as our responsibility to support other culturally, socially and politically active people: We provide spaces, support the realisation of events and offer advice based on our experience and our network. Together with partners from Hanover’s diverse cultural scene, we organise new projects and event formats and thus remain open to new ideas.
Diversity & creativity – the programme of the Pavillon
The Cultural Center Pavillon is a diverse multi-disciplinary venue with cultural crossovers, well-known names and new faces. We aim to create a diverse programme for a diverse society and see the Pavillon as a place for encounters and experiences. Our programme focuses on the following areas:
Music with a focus on jazz, singer-songwriters, folk and soul.
Cabaret and Comedy with well-known artists and newcomers.
Society and Politics with projects and events on international and local politics, the climate crisis, flight, migration, social change and empowerment. The focus here is also on event formats self-organised by various communities in Hanover.
Readings focussing on political, socio-critical and/or feminist literature from various literary genres.
Theatre and Dance in cooperation with the theatrewerkstatt hannover. The guest performance programme presents independent theatre from Hanover, the region and Lower Saxony.
Culture for children with events for children aged 3 and over in the fields of theatre, music and readings.
Financing of our cultural centre
Our cultural centre is run by an association, BI Raschplatz e. V., which pursues non-profit goals with its socio-cultural work. To support us in this, the state capital of Hanover provides us with the building. In addition, it supports our work with an annual subsidy, which accounts for around 30 % of the budget. We generate the remaining 70% ourselves, with income from events, café leases, project-related support from the state, federal government or foundations, as well as donations and contributions from our association members. If you would also like to support our work, we would be delighted to receive your donation.
Partners
The Pavillon is institutionally supported by the Cultural Office of the City of Hanover.
