Art and culture with international glow

In Borås, you can experience worldclass art without any barriers to entry. The city’s development as a gallery filled with art, sculptures and street art has been internationally recognised, and Borås is currently a world leader in street art. So it’s no surprise that residents are proud of their creative and innovative city, where art is uniquely accessible and a natural part of everyone’s daily life.

Borås has a long and exciting history as a city of art. The art association of Borås and Sjuhäradsbygden was formed in 1934, and today it is based in the Flaménska Gallery. But only in the past decade has the city truly become established as a cultural destination. Public art in the city centre is a constant presence and more is added all the time thanks to regular events like the No Limit Street Art festival and the Borås International Sculpture Biennial. Another factor that makes Borås a unique cultural destination is that everything is centrally located: in a radius of under 1.5 km, you can enjoy over 100 sculptures, installations, murals, well-known museums and popular galleries.

The city also has a vibrant theatre scene; Borås City Theatre stages a variety of intriguing plays and performing arts events. If you prefer live music, the old locomotive workshop, Åhaga, holds concerts by musicians ranging from symphony orchestras to Sweden’s top artists.

An art museum of international repute

Inside Kulturhuset, next to Borås City Theatre and Borås Stadsbibliotek, is the Borås Art Museum. It is widely known for its national and international exhibitions and focuses on contemporary and video art. The museum is also responsible for the city’s public art and organises the Borås Art Biennial (formerly the Borås International Sculpture Biennial). Thanks to the museum, Borås has been enriched with sculptures of the highest international calibre – works that are permitted to stand out and make a statement. Page after page has been written about Jim Dine’s 9-metre-tall “Walking to Borås” (colloquially known as Pinocchio). Fredrik Wretman’s “Bodhi” was written about almost as much when this 3.5-metre-tall bronze bust of the artist was anchored to the floor of the Viskan in 2004. And these are just two of many equally exciting works. boraskonstmuseum.se

World-class art photography

If you want to see graphic art and photography from the 1960s and on, have a look at Abecita Pop Art and Photo in Knalleland. Their permanent collection of modern art and photography from Europe and the US is impressive to say the least. Add the awardwinning Nordic textile art and a continuous influx of photo exhibitions into the mix, and you will quickly realise you should keep an eye on the museum’s programme and the regular photography nights. And don’t miss the well-stocked museum shop, which has loads of photography books. abecitakonst.se

Tip!

At boras.com/ stadensomgalleri, you can find tips on galleries, current and upcoming exhibitions, and information on guided tours to deepen and enhance your experience of Borås as a city of art.

“Moder Jord” by Korallpionen & Rickman.

Gianni Versace Retrospective at The Textile Museum of Sweden 2019/2020.

Unlimited artwork on building facades

In September 2014, for the first time ever, the No Limit Street Art festival transformed Borås into an enormous, thriving outdoor gallery that is available year-round. This one-of-a-kind festival delivers impressive artwork. It has been held three more times since then and there are now nearly 40 huge murals and countless little street art installations all over the downtown area. You won’t have to look long to spot one of the numerous paintings on the building facades of Borås. Sometimes they are up to seven storeys tall. nolimitboras.com Textile history meets the future

The Textile Museum of Sweden is one of the Nordic region’s leading museums of textiles and fashion, and offers exhibitions, workshops, tours and various activities. They have shown two unique and internationally renowned fashion exhibitions: Balenciaga – Master of Couture, and the Gianni Versace Retrospective. Take a guided tour, and discover the impressive collection of historical garments and costumes. You can try on clothing from a completely different century or design your own. The museum also has one of Europe’s foremost collections of textile machines, some of which are presented in the permanent exhibition, Textile Power, on the textile industry of yesterday and today. textilmuseet.se