With Heart and Soul for Art – The Friends of the Ruhrtriennale Celebrates 20 Years of Cultural Commitment

For 20 years, the Friends of the Ruhrtriennale have supported the Ruhrtriennale in enabling and creating outstanding and special art in the Ruhr region. The anniversary will be celebrated at the beginning of the festival with the traditional prologue, during which the Friends of the Ruhrtriennale attend the dress rehearsal of the sold-out opening premiere of I Did It My Way – directed by Artistic Director Ivo Van Hove and starring Larissa Sirah Herden and Lars Eidinger. 

In this anniversary year, the association also presents a gift to the Ruhrtriennale audience: Ruhrtriennale Connect is intended to connect festivalgoers and become a visible meeting point in the foyers of the Ruhrtriennale – for all interested parties and for those attending the festival alone. The information booth will be staffed by members of the Friends of the Ruhrtriennale and will offer a space for exchange, information, and new encounters. These include performances on August 21st at I Did It My Way in the Jahrhunderthalle Bochum, on September 28th at Oracle at the Kraftzentrale in the Landschaftspark Duisburg-Nord, and on September 4th at We Are The Lucky Ones in the Jahrhunderthalle. 

The Association of Friends and Supporters of the Ruhrtriennale e.V. has supported the Ruhrtriennale since its founding on July 5th, 2005, both ideologically and financially, and with great personal commitment. With around 450 members and over 50 supported projects, it has become a mainstay of the festival. This is a reason to celebrate, says Ivo Van Hove, Artistic Director of the Ruhrtriennale: "The support of the Friends is much more than financial support for the Ruhrtriennale – it is an expression of a deep connection with the Ruhrtriennale and a vibrant connection between the audience, artists, and festival." 

Over the past 20 years, the Friends' Circle has developed into a vibrant community of culture enthusiasts who not only attend the festival but also actively participate in shaping it. Members receive behind-the-scenes insights, invitations to rehearsals, and offers for joint cultural trips. They can also reserve tickets for Ruhrtriennale productions before they go on sale. Club.Ruhr offers annual memberships starting at €20 for young culture enthusiasts up to the age of 35. 

"For 20 years, the Friends' Circle has connected people who are passionate about exceptional art and the Ruhrtriennale. We are proud of what we have achieved together – and look forward to actively shaping the future of this unique festival with new members," says Dr. Michael Vesper, Chairman of the Friends' Association and founding member. More information about the Friends of the Ruhrtriennale can be found at www.ruhrtriennale.de/freundeskreis. 

The Ruhrtriennale is the arts festival in the Ruhr region. Every summer, it transforms impressive industrial architecture into stages for extraordinary productions. Here, musical theater, drama, dance, performance, concerts, and visual arts meet in spaces steeped in history, creating new and surprising connections. International artists create a program that explores boundaries and opens up new perspectives. The artistic director of the Ruhrtriennale 2024-2026 is Belgian theater director Ivo Van Hove. The 2025 season begins on August 21 and ends on September 21.