On September 20, 2025, the 25th DEW21 Museum Night transformed Dortmund into a vibrant cultural festival. More than 500 events at around 40 venues impressively showcased the diversity of the city’s arts and culture scene.

One highlight was the artistic projection on the Dortmunder U. The tower, visible from afar, is considered both a landmark of the city center and a significant example of early 20th-century industrial architecture in the Ruhr region. During Museum Night, its striking silhouette became a projection surface. The interplay of light, image, and space turned the architecture itself into part of the event.

The Dortmunder U stands like few other buildings for the city’s transformation – from its industrial heritage to a place for culture, science, and technology. The project illustrates how repurposing historical architecture can shape new urban identity. As part of the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010, Gerber Architekten redesigned the former industrial building and developed it into a prominent cultural venue.

During Museum Night, it became clear how profoundly architecture shapes cultural life and how it makes Dortmund visible as a forward-looking city.