Kulturfabrik Esch-sur-Alzette

What Kulturfabrik Esch-sur-Alzette does

Kulturfabrik is a non-profit cultural centre (Kulturfabrik ASBL, recognised as being of public utility) operating from a 4,500m2 site in a former municipal abattoir (1885-86) at 116 rue de Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. Founded as an association in 1983 and opened in its current refurbished form on 2 October 1998, it programmes concerts, festivals, theatre, cinema, exhibitions, literature, and artistic residencies for the Grande Région, supported financially by the Luxembourg Ministry of Culture and the City of Esch-sur-Alzette.

The centre's core products are its physical venues and on-site services: a Grande Salle (810 standing / 250 seated), a Petite Salle (290 standing / 120 seated), the 72-seat Kinosch cinema, Galerie Terres Rouges / Squatfabrik for exhibitions and residencies, six soundproofed rehearsal studios housing ~10 music groups, Linos & Trach workshop spaces, and hospitality outlets (Ratelach bistro, Kufa Summer Bar, Brasserie K116 managed by Kabalux). Underlying technology is conventional SaaS: Ticketmatic for online ticketing with Mollie payment processing (3D Secure), Google Analytics for web traffic, and Facebook Pixel for remarketing. Distribution is direct via the venue, an on-site box office, and an online shop selling branded merchandise.

Revenue is generated through a mix of ticket sales (with a €2.50 presale fee), food and beverage, an annual €15 membership, merchandise, tax-deductible donations (Grand Ducal Decree of 23 July 2016), and Squatfabrik residency fees (€950/week honorarium, €150/week food, up to €3,000 production budget). Customer segments span general cultural audiences, emerging and professional artists, music groups, schools, and community associations, with discount tiers including Kulturpass (€1.50), reduced rates for under-12s, students, and jobseekers, and €6 off for Carte Jeunes Européenne holders. The centre has held the SuperDrecksKëscht fir Betrieber label since 2010 and a Green Club Index certification, and operates with ~30+ named staff and a 12-member Board of Directors.

Name

Kulturfabrik Esch-sur-Alzette

Legal name

Kulturfabrik ASBL

Website

https://kulturfabrik.lu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kulturfabrik is a non-profit cultural centre in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg, operating a 4,500m2 multi-venue site (concert halls, cinema, galleries, studios, bars) for concerts, theatre, cinema, exhibitions, residencies, and festivals, serving regional audiences, artists, and community groups in the Grande Région.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue / Cultural Center

NAICS

Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Multipurpose Event Center Operations (Civic Centers, Community Event Complexes) (MPAGALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Live Music Clubs & Venues (MPAGAIAB), Performing Arts & Cultural Event Venues (Theaters, Museums) (THAHAAAG), Live Music Venues & Concert Bars (THAFAEAD)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Cultural event programming
• Artist residency programs
• Cinema screenings
• Live music concerts

Headquarters

HQ city

Esch-sur-alzette

HQ country

Luxembourg

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales: Revenue from ticket sales for concerts, shows, cinema screenings, and other events. Online presale fees of €2.50 per ticket.
2. Food and beverage: Revenue from the Ratelach bistro (open Tuesday-Saturday, 17h-01h) and Brasserie K116 (brasserie-style restaurant managed by Kabalux).
3. Membership fees: Annual membership card costing €15, valid for one year, entitling members to attend general meetings and receive newsletters and occasional invitations.
4. Merchandise and shop: Sale of merchandise including mugs, totebags, posters, clothing, and branded items like Kufa Soap.
5. Donations and sponsorships: Tax-deductible donations supported by charitable status (Grand Ducal Decree of 23 July 2016). Supported financially by Ministry of Culture of Luxembourg and City of Esch-sur-Alzette.
6. Artist residency program fees: Squatfabrik residency program provides paid residencies with honorarium of €950/week (€3,800 total), food allowance of €150/week (€600 total), accommodation, and production budget up to €3,000.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kulturfabrik is a multidisciplinary cultural center housed in a converted 1885-86 municipal slaughterhouse in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. It operates a 4,500m2 complex comprising two performance halls, a 72-seat cinema, a gallery, rehearsal studios, a bistro, a summer bar, and a brasserie. It produces and presents concerts, festivals, theatre, dance, cinema screenings, visual arts exhibitions, literature events, and artist residencies, supported by its own online ticketing system (Ticketmatic) and a membership program.

Product overview

Kulturfabrik is a multidisciplinary cultural center occupying 4,500m2 in a former municipal abattoir building in Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. The center operates as a unified platform combining multiple venue and service products. Core venues include the Grande Salle (large performance hall, 810 standing/250 seated) and Petite Salle (small performance hall, up to 290 standing/120 seated) for concerts and theater; Kinosch (72-seat cinema) for film programming; Ratelach bistro and Kufa Summer Bar (seasonal outdoor bar) for hospitality; Brasserie K116 for restaurant services; Galerie Terres Rouges/Squatfabrik for exhibitions and residencies; Linos & Trach spaces for workshops and residencies; and six rehearsal studios for musical groups. Supporting infrastructure includes an online ticketing system powered by Ticketmatic, a Kulturfabrik Shop for merchandise, the Squatfabrik artist residency program, and the Poesie Plus literature festival. The center is an ASBL (non-profit association) supported by the Luxembourg Ministry of Culture and the City of Esch-sur-Alzette.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kufa Summer Bar: Seasonal summer bar operating from June to September at the Kulturfabrik site, featuring concerts, DJ sets and performances.
• Ratelach
• Kinosch
• Brasserie K116
• Squatfabrik
• Galerie Terres Rouges

Products and services

• Grande Salle Main performance hall of Kulturfabrik (26m x 15m, 7.5m ceiling height) accommodating up to 810 standing or 250 seated, used for concerts, festivals, and theatre.
• Petite Salle Smaller, modular performance hall adjacent to Grande Salle (17m x 9.5m x 4.5m) accommodating up to 290 standing or 120 seated, used for concerts and theatre.
• Kinosch 72-seat cinema within Kulturfabrik offering eclectic programming including Luxembourgish heritage films, documentaries, lost classics, and cult films from the 1960s-1990s.
• Ratelach (The Kufa Cafe) Bistro and bar managed by Kulturfabrik, open Tuesday to Saturday 17:00 to 01:00, offering local beers, cocktails, and organic and fairtrade products.
• Kufa Summer Bar Seasonal outdoor summer bar operating May/June to September, featuring concerts, DJ sets, and artistic performances in a colourful outdoor setting.
• Brasserie K116 Brasserie restaurant managed by Kabalux within Kulturfabrik, open Monday to Saturday, offering brasserie-style cuisine, daily menus, local dishes, and vegetarian options.
• Galerie Terres Rouges / Squatfabrik Gallery space with white walls, grey columns, and a colourful ceiling, used for exhibitions and artistic residencies; since 2021 connected to the former Keramikfabrik to form the Squatfabrik creation and residency space.
• Linos & Trach Multi-purpose workshop spaces (Lino Gris, Lino Bleu, Lino Jaune, plus Trach on the ground floor) used for artistic residencies, dance, singing, and theatre workshops, and meetings.
• Rehearsal Studios Six soundproofed rehearsal studios located above Galerie Terres Rouges, available to contemporary music groups since 2000, currently hosting approximately ten bands.
• Online Ticketing System Kulturfabrik's own online ticketing system via its website, powered by Ticketmatic with Mollie payment processing and 3D Secure; tickets delivered via email as PDFs with QR codes for entry.
• Kulturfabrik Shop Online merchandise store selling Kulturfabrik branded items including mugs, tote bags, screen prints, masks, clothing, books, and gift vouchers.
• Squatfabrik Artist Residency Program Paid research and experimentation residency program in visual arts and performance arts offering three 4-week residencies per year, pairing Luxembourg-based artists with European artists; honorarium €950/week, food allowance €150/week, production budget up to €3,000.
• Poesie Plus Festival Three-day literature and performance festival exploring intersections between literature, music, movement arts, and visual arts with participatory formats including Porte Parole and Hôte Voix projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Six rehearsal studios hosting approximately 10 music groups continuously since 2000
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bridderhaus (Espace d'art contemporain KONSCHTHAL ESCH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSynergy partner for artist residencies. Squatfabrik artists are housed at Bridderhaus during residencies. Joint selection committee for residency awards. Collaboration on artistic programming.
• Festival du Film Italien de VilleruptminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKinosch cinema serves as official venue for this regional film festival, expanding programming reach.
• HELP (Aides et soins à la personne au Luxembourg)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare organization collaborating with Kinosch for film screenings and educational events.
• Service à l'égalité des chances de la Ville d'EschminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal service partnering with Kinosch for community-focused film events and discussions.
• Zentrum fir politesch BildungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolitical education center collaborating with Kinosch for documentary screenings and civic engagement events.
• CCSA (Conscious and Cultural Student Association) de l'Université du LuxembourgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent association partnering with Kinosch for cultural and educational programming.
• Trans Europe HallesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network of cultural centers. Kulturfabrik is a member, enabling international artist exchanges and collaborations through network connections.
• KabaluxminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRestaurant management company operating Brasserie K116 within the Kulturfabrik premises.
• Schalltot CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMusic collective co-organizing the Out of the Crowd Festival at Kulturfabrik.
• Les RotondesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural venue partnering with Kulturfabrik for the Out of the Crowd Festival.
• OGBL (Opposition Gewerkschaft Lëtzebuerg)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuxembourg trade union co-organizing Out of the Crowd Festival and collaborating on various film screenings and events.
• La Dynamique des Choses collectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArtist collective facilitating workshops and performances as part of Squatfabrik residencies.
• Alcedo (Kufa Soap)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrand from Alsace creating sustainable Kufa Soap merchandise, reflecting shared environmental values.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Friche la Belle de Mai: Marseille cultural center housed in a former tobacco factory offering residencies, performances, exhibitions, and F&B. Direct peer in repurposed-industrial venue operations and artist-residency programming.
• Le CENTQUATRE-PARIS: Paris public cultural center in a converted 19th-century funeral home. Direct peer in operating a large repurposed industrial/heritage space as a multidisciplinary public-facing cultural venue with free/affordable programming.
• den Atelier: Long-running Luxembourg City music and events venue. Direct peer in live music programming targeting similar regional audiences and operating as a comparable concert-promotion-led model.
• Philharmonie Luxembourg: Major performing arts venue in Luxembourg City. Direct peer in concert hall operations within the same national market; differs by specializing in classical programming but addresses overlapping Greater Region audiences.
• Centre Culturel de Rencontre Abbaye de Neumünster: Luxembourg cultural center housed in a repurposed historic abbey offering performing arts, exhibitions, and conferences. Direct peer in repurposed-heritage cultural venue operations and multidisciplinary programming in Luxembourg.
• Rockhal: Luxembourg's largest concert venue located in Belval. Direct peer for live music and concert programming in Luxembourg, serving overlapping Greater Region audiences but with materially larger hall capacity.
• La Gaîté Lyrique: Paris-based cultural center in a former theater building offering digital arts, music, exhibitions, and residencies. Direct peer in repurposed-venue multidisciplinary programming with a residency component and similar mission-driven positioning.
• Les Rotondes: Luxembourg-based cultural venue offering concerts, theatre, exhibitions, and festivals. Direct peer in both geography (Luxembourg) and multidisciplinary programming; Kulturfabrik lists Les Rotondes as a co-organizer of the Out of the Crowd Festival.
• Le Trabendo: Paris concert venue focused on emerging and alternative music. Direct peer in mid-capacity live music venue operations targeting discovery-oriented audiences comparable to Kulturfabrik's programming.

Others

• Trans Europe Halles: European network of cultural centers operating in repurposed buildings, of which Kulturfabrik is a member. OTHERS classification as a peer-enabling network that supports international artist exchanges, co-programming, and EU project funding for members.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kulturfabrik
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LaKufa
• Facebookfacebook.com/KufaEsch
• Instagraminstagram.com/kulturfabrik_esch

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kulturfabrik Esch-sur-Alzette