The Stadtwerkstatt was founded in 1979 as an association in Linz with the "aim of critically examining the conditions of life in the city and promoting cultural initiatives on a popular level."

Shortly before demolition was threatened in 1983, the association launched the "Sgraffito Alchemia" campaign, in which the entire building facade was designed.

The artists were Oona Valerie, Leo Schatzl, Deborah Sengl, Michael Aschauer, Judith Fegerl, Julius Deutschbauer, Eva Grün, Peter Weibel, OrtnerSchinko, Shu Lea Cheang and Franz Xaver.

In accordance with its goal as an association, the Stadtwerkstatt promoted "cultural initiatives" such as the "Independent Filmmakers Linz (ULF)" and participated in exhibitions and the production of plays.

In order to initially conceal from the viewers the fact that now "STWST-TV" was doing programming instead of the show usually taking place at this time, the broadcast began with Bible texts and a host dressed as a priest.

Some other projects of the media artists: In 1991 and 1992 "STWST-TV" created broadcasts for Ars Electronica with the mottos "Out Of Control" and "Endo and Nano", which were shown on 3sat and ORF 2.

In the same year, the media group presented its program "CBB Por Ejemplo" at various universities in Cochabamba, Bolivia.

All this innovative and creative media work did not go unappreciated, as in 1993 and 1994 there were several awards: From the beginning, the Stadtwerkstatt organized numerous events of various kinds.

In addition to lectures and art events, the Stadtwerkstatt is known to a broad public primarily because of regular concerts by alternative - local and international - bands (rock, punk, electropop, etc.)

In addition to local bands, whose playing was accompanied and edited by the Japanese Artist KK Null, and DJs from the regional collectives "Chemotaxis" and "Morphed", other experimental musicians and DJs from Germany, Australia, USA, Holland and Belgium (Sickboy) performed.