(Linz, April 2, 2024) Changes to the Ars Electronica staff structure: Martin Honzik, Co-Managing Director of the “Festival-Prix-Exhibitions” division and Chief Curatorial Officer (CCO) of Ars Electronica, is leaving the company after more than 20 years. Veronika Liebl, who from 2023 formed the dual leadership of the “Festival-Prix-Exhibitions” division together with Martin Honzik, took over the position of sole Managing Director on 1 April.
“Ars Electronica is a unique seedbed for exciting visions of the future in all conceivable facets. I am extremely excited to cultivate this fertile ground, to involve an even greater diversity of disciplines, cultures, nationalities and genders in the essential dialogue about our future and to write the next chapters in the Ars Electronica success story together with a great team – above all my colleagues in the management team and the many co-curators. I can hardly wait to make Linz the stage of the Ars Electronica Festival once again in September!”
Veronika Liebl, at Ars Electronica since 2011, Managing Director of “Festival-Prix-Exhibitions”
Martin Honzik becomes CEO of Festival X
Martin Honzik is taking on a new challenge and assuming the position of CEO of Festival X, an interdisciplinary platform for media art in Dubai, UAE. However, he will remain associated with Ars Electronica Linz as an ambassador.
“Initially as an artist in the Ars Electronica Futurelab and then from 2006 as Managing Director of the Ars Electronica Festival, Martin was instrumental in shaping our journey. His conviction that a media art festival must not hide in ivory towers but must push out into the public space and reach out to people, has shaped the character of Ars Electronica and led to numerous spectacular events. With his enthusiasm for the new and his willingness to leave his comfort zone, he has motivated and inspired our team again and again, supported artists in their work and made unique experiences possible for the public. I would like to thank Martin for all of this and wish him all the best for the future”
Gerfried Stocker, Artistic Director of Ars Electronica
Veronika Liebl: Managing Director and authorised signatory
Veronika Liebl has been working for Ars Electronica since 2011. She manages all of Ars Electronica’s “European Cooperations” – currently 20 projects, including the STARTS Prize, the European Union Prize for Citizen Science and the European Digital Deal. Since 2023, she has been co-managing director of Festival-Prix-Exhibitions and is an authorised signatory of Ars Electronica Linz GmbH & Co KG. She is also a member of the City of Linz Culture Council, member of the executive board of the Linz UNESCO City of Media Arts and is active as a consultant in a number of European networks (including the Next Renaissance Initiative of the EIT Culture & Creative Industries).
On 1 April 2024, she took over the sole management of the “Festival-Prix-Exhibitions” division. Her deputy remains Karl Julian Schmidinger, who has been Technical Director of the “Festival-Prix-Exhibitions” division since 2006. Veronika Liebl will continue to be supported in all aspects of the Ars Electronica Festival by Christl Baur, Head of Festival. Gerfried Stocker (Artistic Director of Ars Electronica) continues to have overall curatorial responsibility.
“Veronika has been a key member of our team for many years. With her outstanding commitment and high level of expertise – both in terms of content and business – she has made Ars Electronica a leading player in the European Union network, helped shape the development of Ars Electronica and contributed a great deal to the professionalisation of our company. I am sure that she and her team will drive the incredible development of Ars Electronica forward”
Markus Jandl, Commercial Director of Ars Electronica
Ars Electronica Center
Photo: Markus Schneeberger
Veronika Liebl, Managing Director of the division “Festival-Prix-Exhibitions” from April 1, 2024
Photo: Martin Hieslmair
Martin Honzik at the Ars Electronica Festival 2023
Photo: tom mesic
