Two Electronic Music Museums Planned in Germany

Germany is set to open two museums dedicated to electronic music: one in Berlin and one in Frankfurt. The Berlin museum, named Living Archive of Elektronika, will be located at the former Kraftwerk power plant, which recently hosted Berlin Atonal. Its founder, Dimitri Hegemann, who also founded the Tresor club and label, announced the location but not the opening date, expected around late 2016. Hegemann avoids the term "museum," stating that techno in Berlin is still vibrant. The space aims to evoke the feeling of being in a dark basement listening to techno after the fall of the Wall. This will be the second such institution after Detroit's Exhibit:3000. In Frankfurt, the MOMEM (Museum Of Modern Electronic Music) is slated to open in autumn 2017. Conceived by DJs Alex Azary and Andreas Tomalla, along with Juan Atkins (who coined the term "techno"), it will be partially funded by the city and is seeking sponsors. MOMEM will explore the evolution of electronic music over the past 30 years through influential DJs, key labels, live events, musical instruments, and contributions from designers and visual artists. Both museums reject the traditional museum concept, emphasizing immersive, current experiences.