Austrian Festival Der Regionen Lets Audiences Travel by Train to Art

The 16th edition of Festival der Regionen, titled 'High time', runs from June 23 to July 2, 2023, along the Mühlviertler Summerauerbahn railway line connecting Linz, Austria, with Horní Dvořiště in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1992 by young creatives and activists, the biennial festival aims to support emerging artists and strengthen local communities outside traditional cultural hubs in Upper Austria. For the first time, the festival is curated by a team of five young professionals: artists Janina Wegscheider, Davide Bevilacqua, and Marlene Hausegger; art historian and curator Fina Esslinger; and cultural operator Mario Friedwagner. The festival features dozens of venues spread over 65 kilometers, offering exhibitions, workshops, concerts, performances on trains and in stations, and projects rethinking local traditions. Participating artists and collectives include Mika Satomi, Rayyane Tabet, S()fia Braga, and the Tangible Music Lab, a research group from the Postdigital Lutherie program at the Art University Linz. The festival encourages reflection on contemporary challenges and fosters dialogue between locals and artists.