Speakers

Matthias Rauch, Dr. phil., studied American Studies, Business Administration and Communications at the University of Mannheim. From 2007-2010, he was a stipend in the graduate program “Formations of the Global” at the University of Mannheim and visiting research fellow at York University, Toronto, in 2010. He has been lecturing on the topics of cultural and creative industries, urban development and innovation at numerous universities. Until 2025, he was cultural innovation officer and head of cultural innovation and creative economy department at NEXT Mannheim. He is currently head of the creative economy office at the City of Mannheim. He was vice chairman of the association for music business and music culture research (GMM e.V.) from 2014 - 2018. Since 2020, he has been speaker of the regional group Rhine-Neckar of the Kulturpolitische Gesellschaft e.V. He initiated and conceptualized the first night mayor position in Germany for the City of Mannheim. He is a sought-after keynote speaker at national and international conferences on the topics of cultural and urban innovation, cultural urban development, night culture, creativity and the cultural & creative industries.