Cultural and concert centre in Aarau with around 200 events annually for more than 35'000 visitors
KIFF – Kultur in der Futterfabrik
Aarau (CH)New on Amplifa
About the KIFF
The KIFF (Kultur in der Futterfabrik) is a cultural and concert centre in the Telli quarter of Aarau, which has been operating in the former Kunath feed factory since 1991. Run by the association IG KIFF, the 14-strong operating team, together with around 30 hourly-paid staff and some 120 active association members, organises around 200 concerts, parties and cabaret events each year on two stages for more than 35'000 visitors. The venue has three event rooms (Saal, Foyer, Silo), an artists' studio tower with twelve studios and a music rehearsal room. In addition to its own programme, the rooms are rented out for corporate parties, birthdays and external events, complemented by catering, sound and media technology. Performances by artists such as Patent Ochsner, Züri West, Sophie Hunger, Nina Hagen and Element of Crime made the KIFF known beyond the region; in 2011 the Canton of Aargau named it one of nine cultural beacons. As the factory building is in need of renovation and the lease is expiring, the new KIFF 2.0 building has been under construction since the groundbreaking in 2024, featuring a hall for up to 1000 people, a club, six rehearsal rooms, a restaurant and a project space, with its opening planned for the end of 2026.
- Site
- Aarau
- Processes
- Rental of event rooms (Saal, Foyer, Silo), Catering, Sound and media technology, Studio rental (12 studios), Music rehearsal room, Gastronomy/restaurant
- Founded
- 1991
- Employees
- 14
- Industries
- Culture and events, Live music/concerts, Parties and events, Cabaret/theatre/comedy
- 01
Programme planning & booking
- 02
Event organisation & production
- 03
Technology (sound/light) & gastronomy
- 04
Rental of rooms, studios & rehearsal room
Locations
Aarau
CHCultural and concert centre (former Kunath feed factory, Telli quarter)
- Materials
- Saal 550 standing/140 seated; Foyer 250/80; Silo 150/50; 12 studios; music rehearsal room
- Saal
- Foyer
- Silo
- Studio tower
- Rehearsal room
- Restaurant/gastronomy
- Sound and media technology
Inside the production
Industries
Additional services
History
- 1926
Fritz Kunath founds a poultry farm in the Aarau Telli district
- 1936
Construction of the first Swiss feed factory for animal feed
- 1971
Renamed Kunath Futter AG
- 1988
Production relocated to Burgdorf; founding of the association «KiFF – Interessengemeinschaft Kultur in der Futterfabrik» on 22 June
- 1990
Opening of the cultural centre on 17 August
- 1991
Start of operations with an event hall and 15 studios
- 1994
Opening of a bar in the rear part of the building
- 1996
Opening of the club bar «Culobalena»; start of the era of live concerts
- 1999
Smouldering fire in the bar causes damage to the building
- 2001
Completion of the CHF 1.4 million conversion «KIFF goes bigger»: staircase and second event room «Foyer»
- 2007
Installation of a second stage in the Foyer; visitor numbers rise markedly
- 2009/2011
The Canton of Aargau names the KIFF one of nine cantonal cultural beacons
- 2016
25th anniversary celebration with more than 6000 visitors
- 2017
Presentation of the new-build project KiFF 2.0
- 2019
Project «Live on Stage» by Enzmann & Fischer wins the architecture competition
- 2021
Aargau Cantonal Bank secured as initial sponsor
- 2022
Aargau government council and Aarau voters say yes to the new building with 76.7%
- 2023
Crowdfunding campaign: over 560'000 francs raised in 40 days
- 2024
Official groundbreaking on 28 June 2024; construction start of KIFF 2.0
- 2026
Planned opening of the new KIFF 2.0 building