Dear artists,
Most likely, we have not met yet.
My name is Tomasz Kireńczuk, originally from Poland. Since 2021, I have been based in Italy, where I am the director of Santarcangelo Festival. In July 2026, I will begin my contract as Artistic Director of brut Wien. I am very much looking forward to this new adventure and to what we will create together.
I know that many of you are currently preparing applications for the upcoming Kuratorium deadline, and I can imagine that some of you are already envisioning new works in the context of brut. I regret that I will not be able to meet you in person before the September deadline, I hope we see each other soon, though I know it may take some time. I look forward to spending time together, and discovering what we are searching for and standing for. From September 2025, I will be visiting Vienna regularly, and by autumn 2026 I will move there permanently — which will allow us to meet and connect more easily. For now, I want to share some ideas this short letter.
Transformation. This is the word that, for me, best describes what brut Wien will experience in the coming years. Transformation concerns not only brut’s internal situation, but also the role it plays — and should play — in Vienna’s, Austria’s, and the international performing arts scene. What excites me most about brut is that an institution in transformation can also become an institution that supports transformation. I believe the role of cultural institutions is to advance progressive agendas, integrate diverse communities, and facilitate broad social dialogue. Transformation also requires transparency – and this letter is also meant as a first to begin this process.
At the end of this season, with the conclusion of Kira Kirsch’s artistic direction, brut Wien will close its temporary home at brut nordwest. In autumn 2026, we will begin a season partly without a permanent house, while working hard on the move to the 03. District. brut’s programme will not stop; however, in season 2026/27 it will take place under specific circumstances and some constraints.
In season 2026/27, besides working in studio brut, the brut team and I want to explore our new district together with you. In front of the future brut building, you will see a brut container — a temporary structure that we plan to use as a venue for 1:1 performances. As part of brut’s introduction to the 03. District, we also wish to develop projects in dialogue with the public, in outdoor and non-theatrical spaces. We are not planning to permanently rent additional theatre spaces. At the same time, we will be working on new initiatives and applications that should allow us in future to support artists and artistic practices in new ways.
We will continue to be in dialogue with the local scene and also strive to open brut more to international exchange. We will listen, learn, invite, and provoke. We will try to inspire, create problems, and solve them. This, for us, is the role of cultural institutions today. If this resonates with you, please consider brut in your future artistic plans.
What I have described in this letter is only an introduction to some of the basic ideas we would like to develop in the coming months. Many things may change. Many things are difficult to predict. But we will do our best to share further information with you as soon as possible.
With warm regards,
Tomasz Kireńczuk
P.S.: Please feel free to contact me at tomasz.kirenczuk@brut-wien.at — though it may take me some time to reply.
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Nordwestbahnstraße 8-10, 1200 Wien
U-Bahn: U1, U2 (Praterstern), U4 (Friedensbrücke), U6 (Dresdnerstraße) Tram: 5 (Nordwestbahnstraße) Bus: 5A (Wasnergasse)
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Zieglergasse 25, 1070 Wien
U-Bahn: U3 (Zieglergasse), Tram: 49 (Westbahnstraße / Zieglergasse)
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Breitenseer Straße 21, 1140 Wien
U-Bahn: U3 (Hütteldorfer Straße) Tram: 10 (Laurentius Platz), 49 (Hütteldorfer Straße)
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Währinger Straße 59, 1090 Wien
U-Bahn: U6 (Währinger Straße / Volksoper), Tram: 40, 41, 42 (Währinger Straße / Volksoper), 5, 33 (Spitalgasse), 37, 38, 40, 41, 42 (Spitalgasse / Währinger Straße)