THE STEAMPUNK CONVENTION IN FIGURES

In 2010, artist Oliver Kayser proposed to Frédéric Humbel, former director of Minett Park (the non-profit organisation that runs the open-air museum), the idea of creating a convention dedicated to the Steampunk genre. With a modest budget, they organised a first weekend, admittedly on a much smaller scale than today, but which laid the foundations for the event. At that first event, only 15 artists were present. In 2019, this figure reached a record of 81 artists. After the COVID pandemic, the number of participants temporarily dropped, but many artists quickly returned to enliven the convention. Last year, 42 artists presented their work, and to date, a total of 301 artists have helped bring this steampunk event to life with passion and creativity.

Beyond concerts and magic shows, a vast steampunk market brings together more than 50 stalls featuring merchants and exhibitors offering a wide range of steampunk clothing, accessories, designs, jewellery and other collectables. At the first edition, 12 merchants were present to exhibit their art, compared with an average of 70 merchants in recent years.  To date, 346 merchants and exhibitors have taken part in all editions of the Steampunk Convention at the Fond-de-Gras.

Whereas in 2011, only the Paul Wurth Hall welcomed artists, exhibitors and visitors, today the entire Minett Park site is mobilised to welcome thousands of visitors to the convention. A total of 4,325 square metres of space are now available to provide an unforgettable experience.

In 2011, the convention welcomed around 500 visitors. Over the years, as the event has grown, the ‘Anno 1900’ convention has become a real meeting point for Steampunk enthusiasts from various countries and cultures. Even some Canadians have already joined the gathering of Steampunk enthusiasts. During the event, our team had the opportunity to chat with visitors from Luxembourg, the border countries, Italy, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, and probably many other countries we don’t always know about. Last year, between 10,000 and 12,000 people visited the site during the Steampunk weekend. A remarkable increase since the first edition.

In short, born of the idea of Oliver Kayser and brought to life by the former director of Minett Park Fond-de-Gras, the ‘Anno 1900’ convention has evolved and grown over the years. Thanks to the invaluable support of the municipalities of Differdange and Pétange, this event has become a memorable experience for all.