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83,976 festivalgoers experienced Ars Electronica 2011 live in Linz. This attendance figure was topped only by last year’s festival, which is actually a bit of an unfair comparison since the 2010 production had 11 days to attract so many people.

The Ars Electronica Quarter was the setting for CREATE YOUR WORLD, a scene of hustle & bustle, ideas circulating non-stop. Now, this site is occupied by the IMPORT/EXPORT container. Other than that, the lawn is undoubtedly happy to have a little more breathing room again.

Symposia were opportunities for discussion interspersed by meet & greet. If you didn’t have a chance to stop by or if you showed up and now want to relive a memorable experience, check out the videos .

The prevailing mood was fantastic! There are no doubt those who are already looking forward to next year, though there’s no need to rush things—we have plenty to mull over in preparation for what’s to come.

In the meantime, the first phase of what is initially a three-year collaboration between CERN and Ars Electronica will definitely deliver some interesting food for thought. A blog will let you follow events online. For info, go to ars.electronica.art/collide.

Here in the days and weeks to come, we’ll be featuring material about the 2011 Festival theme from a wide variety of perspectives. Anyone who’d like to treat the rest of us to his/her personal highlights and favorite photos/videos can simply post them in the commentary section, or on Facebook, Twitter and, pretty soon, Google + — as soon as Google satisfies itself as to the genuineness of our identity.

Thanks a lot!