Digital art centers in Germany: Reinventing industrial spaces with immersive programming

In the run-up to the 5th edition of NUMIX LAB, to be held from November 25 to 29, 2024 in Germany, Munich, Leipzig and Berlin, we offer a series of articles on the country’s trends, dynamics and specificities in terms of immersive digital culture and creativity. This second article offers an overview of digital arts centers, many of which have contributed to the revitalization of disused industrial spaces.

Germany has a rich cultural and historical heritage, inherited from its industrial past. Former power plants, hangars and gas production centers, located in major cities, have become attractive locations thanks to their architectural features. These spaces offer interesting volumes and remarkable artistic potential, particularly with digital technologies such as mapping and extended reality (XR). Numerous digital arts centers have sprung up in these now obsolete structures.

But how can these disused industrial spaces be transformed into cultural venues through sustainable production models? This article examines this question by highlighting a specific German phenomenon: the integration of digital arts centers into projects to revitalize industrial sites or districts. Following an analysis of the assets of these sites for cultural immersion, we examine two models for the development of centers in Germany, which merge museographic models with audiovisual content production models.

^{ROBERT IRWIN, LIGHT AND SPACE (KRAFTWERK BERLIN), 2021. COMMISSIONED BY LAS Art Foundation.
© Photo credi : TIMO OHLER. VG BILD-KUNST, 2021}