On Saturday March 22nd the third edition of the Munich Creative Business Week formally opens.
We know, we know, that's what we thought when they launched in 2012. Munich? Creativity?
No wonder they're concentrating on the business aspect, we chortled into our banana milkshakes. Typical Bavarians!
Which of course is very, very unfair. For in a manner similar to Stuttgart, Munich is home to a lot of creativity. Just a creativity that is a lot more self-assured and so reserved than the brash young things in, for example, Berlin.
In addition to the obvious "big boys" such as BMW, Siemens or Bosch Home Appliances, Munich is also home to smaller, handwork based, companies of genuine international acclaim, including Nymphenburg Porcelain or the glass and mosaic company Mayer'sche Hofkunstanstalt.
Numerous leading product and furniture design studios have also established themselves in the Bavarian capital, including Konstantin Grcic, Stefan Diez or Eva Paster and Michael Geldmacher aka Neuland Industriedesign, a pair who met while studying design at the city's University of Applied Sciences.
And of course with Die Neue Sammlung Munich can boast Germany's, indeed if not the world's, oldest, and so original, design museum.
Which all together gives the city a fair justification to host such an event.
In addition to a series of conferences and lectures featuring the likes of architecture critic and curator Justin McGuirk, designer Fritz Frenkler or droog co-founder Renny Ramakers, the Munich Creative Business Week 2014 programme also includes workshops, atelier tours, podium discussions etc etc etc.
While throughout the city numerous exhibitions and shows are planned by established design professionals and fresh faced young hopefuls alike.
And as if all that wasn't enough, from Friday February 21st until Sunday February 23rd the blickfang design trade fair will be making its Munich début with the likes of Lex Pott, perludi and Raumfieber presenting their wares. We're not sure in how far blickfang Munich is part of the official Munich Creative Business Week programme: it is however a very welcome addition to the range of events.
Which all sounds like a splendid opportunity to get to know the city and its creativity a little better. And of course challenge those lazy old stereotypes.
Full details can be found at: www.mcbw.de
