Ladies and Gentlemen,

Fellow lovers of experimental sound art,

I am delighted to welcome you to Herne for the BLAUES RAUSCHEN festival. The festival is dedicated to an artistic exploration of the interplay between music, technology and digital culture, and brings international perspectives on contemporary sound art to the cities of the Ruhr region.

The Alter Wartesaal at Herne railway station is not only an exhibition space but has also become one of the region’s most distinctive venues for experimental music. This historic space creates a focused listening environment in which sound, space and perception can unfold directly. With carefully curated projects by international artists, this evening brings together technically and creatively outstanding works that examine the transformations between body, technology and environment from different perspectives.

Water, learning machines and technical extensions of the body become starting points for sonic processes in which physical, digital and bodily levels interact. As for the respective outcomes of these exploratory processes: they remain open-ended, emerge in the moment, and are in a state of constant flux. The audience remains in a state of intense concentration and processing.

Such formats are also significant for Herne in terms of cultural policy. Our city views culture as an open space for innovation, participation and new artistic perspectives. Venues such as the Alte Wartesaal demonstrate how historic spaces can be transformed into vibrant platforms for contemporary international artistic experimentation.

I would like to thank all the artists and the festival team, and wish you all an inspiring evening.