Ars Electronica Center

About the museum

The Ars Electronica Center grew out of the festival of the same name for art, technology and society, which has been held in Linz since 1979. Faced with the crisis of the nationalised steel industry, the city was looking for a new perspective at the time; the driving force was the ORF regional director Hannes Leopoldseder. In the mid-1990s the idea emerged of a centre open all year round that would bring digital technologies closer to broad sections of the population. After the groundbreaking in 1994, the Center opened in 1996 on the north bank of the Danube next to the Nibelungen Bridge; at the same time the Futurelab was founded, which develops the interactive installations.

For the 2009 European Capital of Culture year, the building received a large extension with a glass facade made of thousands of LED elements that glows in changing colours in the evening. Since then, the heart of the centre has been the Deep Space, a projection room with wall and floor surfaces each measuring 16 by 9 metres, which now runs programmes in 8K resolution.

The museum sees itself as a laboratory and a place for trying things out. The exhibitions combine artworks, research projects and hands-on stations on topics such as artificial intelligence, neuroscience, robotics, genetic engineering and biotechnology, space travel and climate change; a permanent exhibition on artificial intelligence already opened in 2019. Info trainers explain the stations in conversation, and a children's research lab is aimed at the youngest guests. The Center is operated by Ars Electronica Linz GmbH & Co KG, which is also responsible for the festival, the Prix and the Futurelab.

Highlights

• Deep Space 8K with wall and floor projections measuring 16 × 9 metres
• "Understanding AI" exhibition for trying out neural networks
• Children's research lab with robots and hands-on stations
• Labs for bio, neuro and materials research
• LED media facade on the Danube

Permanent exhibitions

• Deep Space 8K – A projection room with huge wall and floor images in 8K, where presentations on art, science and virtual worlds run several times a day.
• Understanding AI – Shows how artificial intelligence works and where it is used; at many stations you can train neural networks yourself.
• Kinderforschungslabor – Play and experimentation area for children with robots, music and light stations, and a journey into the microcosm.

Founded

1996

Operated by

Ars Electronica Linz GmbH & Co KG

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Every Sunday "1 + 1 free" (LINZ AG Sunday) when arriving with LINZ AG lines or with a KlimaTicket Ö.

Free admission for children under 6 and with the Linz Card, LINZ KULTURCARD 365, Kulturpass "Hunger auf Kunst & Kultur", ICOM card and Pyhrn-Priel-Card. 50% discount with the 4youCard. Family, Aktivpass and card discounts as well as tickets for public guided tours are available at the day ticket desk only. The Deep Space Dailys are included in the admission price.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is accessible for wheelchair users. Assistance dogs are allowed, other animals are not.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Kids’ birthday parties

According to the museum, suitable for all age groups with no age restriction. Children's research lab with robots, programming stations and experiments, Deep Space Family for the youngest, Family Tour, holiday programme and children's birthday parties.

Getting there & parking

Satnav address: Ars-Electronica-Straße 1 or Hauptstraße 2–4, 4040 Linz. Directly on the Danube Cycle Path, rental bikes from city bike Linz; also reachable by Danube boat. The museum recommends arriving by public transport, bicycle or on foot.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant
• Coat check
• Lockers

Restaurant QUBE on the top floor with regional, seasonal cuisine and patisserie. Cloakroom lockers in the foyer for a €1 or €2 coin.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 120 guests.

Sky Loft on the 3rd floor (divisible, 170 m², 20 to 120 guests), foyer in the 22-metre-high atrium, Project Space with roof terrace, Deep Space 8K, seminar room in the basement and Maindeck (1,500 m², separate official permit required); catering by QUBE, accompanying programme with tours and Deep Space presentations.

Plan your visit