Radio has always been an ambivalent medium: it can serve as an instrument of political power and propaganda, but at the same time it can also be a tool of resistance. The TACTUS Festival picks up on this tension and highlights how radio can function as a social, artistic and political space in historical and contemporary crisis scenarios.
Especially in the digital age, with many FM signals being switched off in Europe and the transition to DAB+, internet radio and podcasts, new fundamental questions are arising for radio. The festival explores whether and how analogue frequencies can be reactivated for alternative, public-interest and creative uses.
In a three-day festival workshop combining practical and theoretical units under the theme ‘Radio di guerra, radio di pace’ (Radio of War, Radio of Peace), these questions will be discussed together and visions for the ‘radio’ of the future – a medium of listening – will be developed.

• Curators: Andrea Borgnino (RaiPlay Sound), Roberto Paci Dalò (Usmaradio), Nathalie Singer (Bauhaus University Weimar), Elisabeth Zimmermann (Kunstradio / ORF).
• Programme:
  • Introductory sessions on the theme of ‘Radio of War / Radio of Peace’. 
  • Workshops, e.g. ‘Building a Transmitter’ with Paolo Petrangolini.
  • Sessions on alternative transmission technologies. 
  • Sound walks (‘Blind Walk’, electromagnetic walks) with the duo L'Impero della Luce. 
  • Open laboratory (World Café) for the development of prototypes for ‘the future of radio’ with Nathalie Singer.
  • Performances, DJ set with Andrea Borgnino / DJ Armeno.
• A Kiwi SDR receiver will be introduced on site, and there will be micro-FM transmissions to enable practical experience with radio production.
• The festival will also be broadcast on bauhaus.fm via stream and 108.8 Mhz in the Weimar area.

Interested artists can apply to participate. The number of participants is limited to 25. Participation is free of charge, but attendance on all three days of the festival is expected. Accommodation and travel expenses are not provided. Applications (letter of motivation + CV) must be submitted by email by 30 November 2025 to: tactus[at]usmaradio.org

More information: https://www.usmaradio.org/tactusfestival2025/

TACTUS RADIO FESTIVAL 2025
12–14 December 2025

Curated by Andrea Borgnino, Roberto Paci Dalò, Nathalie Singer, Elisabeth Zimmermann
Organisational management Alessandro Renzi
Press office Jeffrey Zani
Communication Erica Tentoni, Andrea Conti
Scheduling Valentina Maggioli
Graphic design Davide di Gennaro (Tomo Tomo)

A project by Usmaradio – Research Centre for Broadcasting, ORF Kunstradio / Kunst zum Hören, Experimental Radio and Real.Sense.Lab at the Bauhaus University Weimar
Production UNIRSM – University of the Republic of San Marino
In collaboration with Unirsm Design, RaiPlay Sound, Tomo Tomo Milano, Giardini Pensili, Sentire le Voci – La festa del podcast, Il Macello cooperativa culturale San Marino
Patronage Segreteria di Stato Istruzione e la Cultura, Segreteria di Stato per l’Industria e l’Artigianato and Segreteria di Stato Turismo della Repubblica di San Marino
Media partner Gagarin Orbite Culturali, bauhaus.fm