The Anniversary Pavilion opened to the public during the Gothenburg Culture Festival on the 14^th to the 19^th of August. The Pavilion was a success, offering a programme of over 70 events and attracting many curious visitors.

Curious residents flocked to the Anniversary Pavilion this year to sample the various activities on offer. Visitors had the chance to find out more about the anniversary initiatives, speak to senior city officials and listen to talks and presentations on the stage. There were several international events in the programme in line with this year’s focus year theme, Go Global. Among other things, artist Arghavan Agida presented her project Artdom, which unites Iranian and Swedish female artists. Kerstin Årre, unit manager for libraries in eastern Gothenburg, spoke about the World Literature House, a new multicultural library opening in Gamlestaden on the 1^st of December.

The Pavilion’s VR shows proved enormously popular. Visitors experienced a simulated ride on Gothenburg’s new cable car over the river, thanks to a collaboration between the Traffic & Public Transport Authority and Västtrafik. They also got to experience visualisations of 17th century Gothenburg created by the Museum of Gothenburg and the City Planning Office.

Music enthusiasts could take part in Side by Side by El Sistema Sweden and the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra’s activities, and the Hisingen youth group gave a spontaneous dance show to promote the new dance platform on Kvillestråket. In the evening, the public danced to music served up by various DJs.

“The Pavilion is a wonderful venue where we can converse with Gothenburg’s residents about the city’s 400th anniversary 2021 and all the exciting ideas being realised,” says Alexsandra Flinck, project coordinator and manager of the Anniversary Pavilion.