The inaugural edition of STAGE Bregenz opens later this month on the shores of Lake Constance, and for those who are making their travel plans, GCC encourages everyone who is able to take the #TraintoSTAGEBregenz. 

STAGE Bregenz is a new, more environmentally responsible art fair that taps into its rich regional culture, and with a strategic location in the west of Austria between Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany and Italy, the fair presents a perfect opportunity to normalise greener regional and inter-European travel.

So why is it important to travel climate consciously, and how can we plan our journeys to Bregenz?

Climate Conscious Travel

At GCC we advocate for climate conscious travel. This means seriously considering the impact of our journeys, as well as addressing the amount that we fly.

We acknowledge that the art sector is an international community built on connection, and it’s not always realistic for us to stop travelling entirely.

But by taking advantage of the regional public transport connections that already exist, particularly within Europe, we can reduce or remove our reliance on flights, stay on track to meet 2030 emissions reductions targets, and continue to meet and connect with each other.

STAGE Bregenz

STAGE Bregenz, which will take place from 22nd - 25th February, is a new fair that aims to offer a platform to art in the Lake Constance region. The idea is to create a strong regional platform that remains international in outlook and is connected to - but not dependent on - the global market.

The fair also aims to be a ‘sustainable art fair’ from its very first edition. To this end, the fair is not paying for any flight tickets - including for the fair team, curators, directors and invited press - and will only reimburse tickets for train travel.

The Festspielhaus, where the fair takes place, uses green electricity and is also certified as an eco-profit organisation. Together with the Congress Centrum Alpbach, it was one of two pilot projects for Green Meeting certification in Austria.

The fair is also encouraging visitors to use public transport to reach the venue, which sits on the shores of Lake Constance.

Tips for travel

For those visiting Bregenz from across Europe, reaching the fair by train is simple. The train station in Bregenz lies 100 metres from the fair venue, and the city is well-connected to nearby cities including Zürich, Stuttgart, and Munich.

If you’re travelling to Bregenz from Zürich, the 90km journey takes just under 1 ½ hours on average, and a single ticket starts from €15. Direct trains from Stuttgart take just under 3 hours, while the journey from Munich takes 2 ¾ hours, with single tickets starting from only €13.

For visitors travelling from Italy, there are around 17 trains per day connecting Milan and Bregenz, with the fastest journey taking around 5 ½ hours and covering 231km. Those coming to Bregenz from Vienna, meanwhile, can take advantage of a direct train connection that covers 500 km in around 6 ¾ hours. A single ticket starts from €25.

Even those travelling from further afield can take advantage of strong inter-European, regional and local rail connections: 15 trains per day connect Paris and Bregenz in around 6 ¼ hours, while visitors from London can hop on the Eurostar and make the journey in an average of 10 hours, taking in the scenery en route.

We’ve compared the carbon emissions generated by return journeys from these longer-distance destinations by plane and by rail, and the impact of taking the train is clear to see:

By purchasing a ticket to STAGE Bregenz, visitors receive free transport to and from the fair from within the entire Vorarlberg province. The fair has also put together a guide on events and exhibitions taking place in Bregenz, Vorarlberg, and the wider Bodensee region, so visitors can make use of local transport connections and explore the area while they’re in the area.