Tuesday, September 07, 2004
City Survives Art Geek Invasion
Congratulations, residents of Linz. You and your city have again survived the annual geek invasion.
Once an industrial town that tourist guides warned was devoid of any cultural attractions, Linz, in northern Austria, has become the center of Europe’s alternative art scene thanks in part to the Ars Electronica festival, the world’s largest technology and art showcase, and the thousands of black-clad, laptop-lugging people who show up for the festival every year.
More than 40,000 people from 42 different countries attended this year’s festival, which took place the first week in September. And as usual, Ars Electronica turned the entire city of Linz into one big digital art installation.