Denise Hirtenfelder - Linz Tourism

Introduction

Denise Hirtenfelder is a media artist, artistic researcher, and cultural manager at Linz Tourism. In her role, she designs cultural programs and narratives for the destination Linz, strengthens the networking of cultural actors, and contributes to the strategic development of the cultural location. Since 2026, she has been a member of the Executive Board of the UNESCO City of Media Arts, as well as the City Culture Council.

What happens when you think of a destination not just for visitors, but in collaboration with the local community?

Linz Tourism has been following a participatory approach for several years and offers insights into the process: from the joint development of the Destination Strategy 2030 and its implementation via the ‘Action Boards’, right through to the ‘Long Table’ as a forum for dialogue with local residents. Together, we will discuss how participation can remain effective in the long term, the philosophy behind it, and how people can be won over to change in the long run.

The workshop will be led by Liliane Grantl, Luzia Bradt and Denise Hirtenfelder.