The “Across the Alps: Explore, Respect, Live!” exhibition has reached the last stop of its tour through Tyrol. Ingrid Felipe, Deputy Governor of Tyrol, and Dr. Andreas Ermacora, President of the Austrian Alpine Association, and the director of the Pro Vita Alpina Association Florentine Prantl joined Alpine Convention Secretary General Alenka Smerkolj at the exhibition in the heart of Innsbruck.
Surrounded by the scenic Nordkette mountains behind Innsbruck, they exchanged with each other and representatives from local media about the exhibition.
"The entire Alpine region is currently confronted with major challenges that will certainly continue to occupy the next generations. Public interventions such as our travelling exhibition should draw attention to these issues and create awareness for our special living and natural space," says Deputy Governor Felipe.
Her thoughts are complemented by those of Secretary General Smerkolj: “It is also about showing the many sides of the Alps: as a place we call home, as a place where we work and relax, as a place that is home to thousands of unique animal and plant species. The exhibition asks what we need to do to preserve and sustainably develop this space so that it is available for future generations.”
Dr. Ermacora draws a parallel between the original purpose of the bivouac and its new role as a part of the exhibition: “Before the historic Glockner bivouac was replaced by a new bivouac box, it provided shelter and protection for numerous people. It is considered a place that offers alpinists refuge on the mountain. In the valley, the historic bivouac is an ideal place to reflect on the more than necessary protection of the Alps."
The new look of the bivouac is described by Florentine Prantl: “We based the execution of the exhibition on the original concept of the old cabinets of curiosities that evolved into museums. Collections in which (almost) everything that seemed important was collected in one room. Plants, animals, insects, books, pictures, drawings and more, on a wide variety of topics.”
The exhibition is on display in Maria-Theresien-Straße in Innsbruck from 23 August to 29 September.
The open-air exhibition is financially supported by the Government of Tyrol.