Minister of Culture Ute Schäfer: Prof. Heiner Goebbels named Artistic Director of the Ruhrtriennale for seasons 2012 to 2014

Düsseldorf. Minister of Culture for North Rhine-Westphalia Ute Schäfer together with current Artistic Director of the Ruhrtriennale Prof. Willy Decker presented Prof. Heiner Goebbels as Artistic Director designate for the seasons 2012 to 2014 in the Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum today. The supervisory board and meeting of company partners of Kultur Ruhr GmbH had decided in their meeting today to entrust Prof. Heiner Goebbels with the artistic direction of the Ruhrtriennale.

»Heiner Goebbels is a Professor at the Justus Liebig University in Gießen and runs its Institute for Applied Theatre Sciences extremely successfully, exerting a considerable influence on the German theatrical landscape. He is a composer and maker of music theatre. With his productions, his work as a director, he is engaged literally throughout the world, working on international co-productions with a wide range of partners, presenters and festivals. In other words: he has the best contacts. I am delighted that Mr Goebbels is prepared over a three or four year period to take some time away from his activities as a teacher, composer and producer in order to accept the rather different challenge of being an impresario and programme maker«, Schäfer explained.

»This is a decision in keeping with the spirit of the Ruhrtriennale and above all goes beyond the usual circle of artistic directors. Heiner Goebbels is an innovative artist with a major international reputation, who will open new horizons for this festival once again «, said the current Artistic Director Prof. Willy Decker.

Within a short period the Ruhrtriennale has established itself as one of the most exciting, innovative and original festivals in Europe. »This is something for which we above all have to thank the wonderful succession of artistic directors. I am pleased that in Mr Goebbels we have found an artistic director who fits perfectly into this series of Ruhrtriennale artistic directors and yet will once again work in a completely different way from his predecessors. Today we can all already look forward to the results«, said the Minister.

Biographical information about Prof. Heiner Goebbels is available via: www.heinergoebbels.com