Honoring Berlin’s Techno Culture as Intangible Cultural Heritage

Certificate Ceremony and Press Conference today at Schloss Biebrich, Wiesbaden GER ­
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Today, „Techno Culture in Berlin“ will be honored with the presentation of the UNESCO certificate, recognizing it as part of Germany’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. In a formal ceremony held at Schloss Biebrich in Wiesbaden, the non-profit rave the planet gGmbH, as the applicant for the cultural form „Techno Culture in Berlin“, will receive the certificate from the German Commission of UNESCO. This honor highlights the exceptional cultural importance of Techno Culture for Berlin and its role in fostering social cohesion.

The actual recognition was already granted on March 14, 2024, when Berlin’s Techno Culture was included in the Nationwide Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The official certificate presentation will take place today, Tuesday, during a celebratory event. Alongside rave the planet gGmbH, represented by Dr. Motte, Timm Zeiss, Ellen Dosch-Roeingh, and former research associates Felicitas Settili and Yad Attar, five other cultural forms will also be honored.

The significance of this recognition extends far beyond Germany: Last week, during the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), a panel titled „Celebrating the UNESCO Status for Berlin Techno“ featured Berlin-based techno artist and label owner Ellen Allien and Tresor founder Dimitri Hegemann.

Additionally, on October 17, 2024, the first International Day of Intangible Cultural Heritage was celebrated. As part of this, the Berlin Committee for UNESCO Work and the UNESCO University Group Berlin organized a „Techno Culture City Walk“. This two-hour tour took participants to iconic locations of Berlin’s Techno Culture, including the „KitKat Club“, „Tresor“, „Kraftwerk Mitte“, and „Holzmarkt25“ (formerly Bar 25). The tour offered an impressive insight into the history and ongoing significance of Techno Culture in Berlin.

Dr. Motte, one of the founding figures of Berlin’s techno scene and co-initiator of the Love Parade, emphasized the importance of this recognition: ­
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­ „Berlin’s Techno Culture has inspired people from all over the planet. Being added to Germany’s Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage is not just a recognition of our history — one that started long before this music reached Berlin — but also a call to action for us as cultural creators, and for politicians, to protect and support this culture.“

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