Five million people almost five times the area of New York City and, with 53 cities, the largest metropolitan area in Germany: The Ruhr region is a vibrant metropolis, a student stronghold and the place for artistic creativity and urban life. From hidden studios to world-famous exhibition venues, from traditional educational institutions to modern co-working spaces, from enchanting vintage cafés to characteristic corner stalls - in the Ruhr region, the existing meets the new, cult meets experiment. And it is precisely at this interface that the region's potential lies for the New Arts Ruhr and all creatives who want to set new impulses here in the fields of electronic music, digital arts, urban arts or contemporary circus.

On the one hand, there are vacant, unused spaces and moderate rents for workshops, work labs and apartments. Those are attractive for new ideas and the lives of young artists. On the other hand, they fall into an existing, ramified and constantly growing network of institutions, actors and project planners. This network offers them countless links. Existing and emerging training centers and creative quarters also attract all those who would like to see their experimental playground, their inspirational and living space closely interlinked.