Over the years, the BLAUES RAUSCHEN festival has come to symbolise an artistic exploration of the tensions within our digital present – between human and machine, sound and technology, experiment and experience. I am delighted that Dortmund is once again an important part of this extraordinary festival this year.

With the evening at the storyLab kiU in the Dortmunder U, the city is once again transformed into a laboratory for new forms of sound art. Installations and performances combine spatial perception, technology and musical experimentation – inviting the audience to actively experience and help shape sound.

The second day of the festival in Dortmund – and thus also this year’s finale – at the domicil continues this spirit of openness: in this historic jazz venue, experimental electronic music, improvised soundscapes and interactive sound concepts come together. This demonstrates just how vibrant and diverse the scene is in the Ruhr region, spanning club culture, media art and the avant-garde.

Formats such as BLAUES RAUSCHEN highlight, particularly in times of rapid technological development, the role that cultural venues play in our city: they are spaces for innovation, reflection and creative visions of the future.

I would like to thank all the artists, partners and the festival team who make these inspiring encounters possible, and I wish the audience stimulating, surprising and sound-filled festival moments in Dortmund.