12 post-war churches as venues
In Duisburg, Essen, Gelsenkirchen and Bochum
St. Gertrud
Essen
Info point
2 Sub-venues
Partly accessible
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Located near Essen’s commercial streets, the historic St. Gertrud Church (built in 1877 and reconstructed in 1955 by Emil Jung) stands in stark contrast to the surrounding bustle. St. Gertrud’s...
Opening days
Tuesday - Sunday
(during the biennial: 21.06–4.10.2026)
Creative Mediator
René Block & Leonie Herweg10 participants in St. Gertrud
Halil Altındere, Ayşe Erkmen, Mona Hatoum, Pravdoliub Ivanov, Šejla Kamerić, Jarosław Kozłowski, Olaf Metzel, Donja Nasseri, Navid Nuur, Nasan Tur
Markuskirche
Essen
Info point
Wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Located in the residential district of Essen-Frohnhausen, Markuskirche is a striking example of early 20th century sacred architecture. Reflecting the key principles of Reformed church design from that era, it...
Opening days
Tuesday - Sunday
(during the biennial: 21.06–4.10.2026)
Creative Mediator
Michael Kurtz & Henry Meyric Hughes4 participants in Markuskirche
Sara Bichão, Lilli Lake, PELE Collective, Augustas Serapinas
St. Marien
Essen
Info point
Wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
In the far north of Essen the former St. Marien Church forms a striking landmark in the cityscape. Built between 1961 and 1963 by architect Hans Schilling it is an...
Opening days
Tuesday - Sunday
(during the biennial: 21.06–4.10.2026)
Creative Mediator
René Block & Leonie Herweg10 participants in St. Marien
Jason Dodge, William Engelen, Katharina Fritsch, Annika Kahrs, Jarosław Kozłowski, Alicja Kwade, Mira M. Yang, SUPERFLEX, Evita Vasiljeva, Amanda Ziemele
Kulturkirche Liebfrauen
Duisburg
Info point
Partly accessible
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
The Catholic Liebfrauenkirche (1958–1971 by Dr. Toni Hermanns), located in Duisburg’s lively city centre, is one of the most important post-war modernist churches in the Rhine and Ruhr areas. It...
Opening days
Tuesday - Sunday
(during the biennial: 21.06–4.10.2026)
Creative Mediator
Michael Kurtz & Henry Meyric Hughes5 participants in Kulturkirche Liebfrauen
Julian Irlinger, Athina Koumparouli, Elizabeth Price, Emil Walde, Abbas Zahedi
St. Bonifatius – Ferdane Satır Tea Garden
Gelsenkirchen
Info point
Wheelchair accessible
No wheelchair-accessible toilets
Among the church buildings in Gelsenkirchen, St. Bonifatius (1963 by Ernst von Rudloff) stands out as a compelling example of how former houses of worship can be creatively repurposed. Originally...
Opening days
Tuesday - Sunday
(during the biennial: 21.06–4.10.2026)
Creative Mediator
Gürsoy Doğtaş23 participants in St. Bonifatius – Ferdane Satır Tea Garden
Begzada Alatović, Özlem Altın, Atiye Altül, Akbar Behkalam, Bureau Baubotanik, Vlassis Caniaris, İsmail Çoban, Yıldırım Denizli, İhsan Ece, Füruzan , Abuzer Güler, Nejla Gür, Judith Hopf, Merve Kaplan, Justin Lieberman, Julia Logothetis, Mihály Moldvay, Jannis Psychopedis, Metin Talayman, Rıza Topal, Yıldız Tüzün, Nil Yalter, Hanefi Yeter
Thomaskirche – Hava Güleç Living Room
Gelsenkirchen
Info point
Wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Though modest in scale, Thomaskirche (1965 by Fred Janowski and Albrecht Wittig) stands out with its remarkable crystalline form, a bold expression of modernity in the mid-1960s that continues to...
Opening days
Tuesday - Sunday
(during the biennial: 21.06–4.10.2026)
Creative Mediator
Gürsoy Doğtaş21 participants in Thomaskirche – Hava Güleç Living Room
Mehmet Aksoy, Bettina Allamoda, Atiye Altül, Ayzit Bostan, Fatma Ceylan, Yıldırım Denizli, Hava Güleç, Mehmet Güler, Abuzer Güler, Nejla Gür, Muhlis Kenter, Azade Köker, Julia Logothetis, Asimina Paradissa, Judith Raum, Dennis Siering, Nesrin Tanç, Gülbin Ünlü, Weberei Kai, Serpil Yeter, Hanefi Yeter
St. Anna – Hatay Engin Music Hall
Gelsenkirchen
Info point
1 Sub-venue
Wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
St. Anna in Gelsenkirchen Schalke-Nord is an impressive example of how a sacred space can be transformed into a lively centre for community and inclusion. Originally consecrated in 1908, the...
Opening days
Tuesday - Sunday
(during the biennial: 21.06–4.10.2026)
Creative Mediator
Gürsoy Doğtaş12 participants in St. Anna – Hatay Engin Music Hall
Emre Abut, Cana Bilir-Meier, Constructlab, İhsan Ece, Philipp Gufler, Cihangir Gümüştürkmen, Nejla Gür, Gašper Kunšič, Jannis Psychopedis, Mesut-Sabuha Salaam, Ming Wong, Hanefi Yeter
St. Josef
Gelsenkirchen
Info point
Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Partly accessible
Among the venues of Manifesta 16, St. Josef (1894–1896 by Lambert von Fisenne, 1912 sacristy construction by Josef Franke) holds a unique position: unlike the selected modernist buildings, it features...
Opening days
Tuesday - Sunday
(during the biennial: 21.06–4.10.2026)
Creative Mediator
Josep Bohigas4 participants in St. Josef
Havîn Al-Sîndy, Curro Claret Martí, Dúo Barber-Palacios, Penique Productions
Christ-König
Bochum
Info point
Wheelchair accessible
No wheelchair-accessible toilets
Christ-König (1932 by Franz Schneider) in Bochum is a reconstruction of a church originally built for a Franciscan monastery. Its simple design embodies the Franciscan ideal of poverty. After its...
Opening days
Tuesday - Sunday
(during the biennial: 21.06–4.10.2026)
Creative Mediator
Anda Rottenberg & Krzysztof Kosciuczuk15 participants in Christ-König
Mirosław Bałka, Mehtap Baydu, Mabe Bethônico, Aline Bouvy, Cudelice Brazelton IV, Bérénice Gaça Courtin, Niklas Goldbach, Nicolas Grospierre, Albe Hamiti, Eva Koťátková, Katarzyna Kozyra, Małgorzata Mirga-Tas, Anka Sasnal, Wilhelm Sasnal, Luc Tuymans
St. Ludgerus
Bochum
Info point
Wheelchair accessible
No wheelchair-accessible toilets
Nestled in the heart of Bochum-Langendreer, St. Ludgerus Church (1966 by Hans Joachim Lohmeyer) stands as a testament to postwar resilience and architectural innovation. Through its striking triangular shape, its...
Opening days
Tuesday - Sunday
(during the biennial: 21.06–4.10.2026)
Creative Mediator
Josep Bohigas2 participants in St. Ludgerus
CaboSanRoque with FLEXO ARQUITECTURA, Curro Claret Martí
Gethsemane-Kirche
Bochum
Info point
Wheelchair accessible
No wheelchair-accessible toilets
Bochum’s Gethsemane Church (1947–1950 by Otto Bartning) is a remarkable example of a Protestant Notkirche (emergency church). Emergency churches served as temporary places of worship set up quickly to provide...
Opening days
Tuesday - Sunday
(during the biennial: 21.06–4.10.2026)
Creative Mediator
Anda Rottenberg & Krzysztof Kosciuczuk7 participants in Gethsemane-Kirche
Mirosław Bałka, Zuza Golińska, Miedya Mahmod, Marina Naprushkina, Julia Nitschke, Mikołaj Sobczak, Cassidy Toner
St. Anna
Bochum
Info point
No wheelchair-accessible toilets
Wheelchair accessible
This church building, designed by Wilhelm Peter in 1929, is located in the heart of Bochum’s Goldhamme district, to the west of the city centre. This area has traditionally been...
Opening days
Tuesday - Sunday
(during the biennial: 21.06–4.10.2026)
Creative Mediator
Anda Rottenberg & Krzysztof Kosciuczuk6 participants in St. Anna
Pedro Cabrita Reis, Kateryna Lysovenko, Pınar Öğrenci, Mykola Ridnyi, Wilhelm Sasnal, Marion Stokes
Programme
Discover the Manifesta 16 Ruhr Programme!
- BottropAuf.Atmen – Presentation: Empty Church. Now what?Manifesta 16 +Auf.Atmen (Taking a ...ReadingAll ages
- EssenThe Fabric of the Neighbourhood - "Sewing sessions"Get Involved!Manifesta 16 +The Fabric of the Ne...CraftsAll ages
- EssenThe Fabric of the Neighbourhood - "Sewing sessions"Manifesta 16 +Get Involved!The Fabric of the Ne...CraftsAll ages
- St. Bonifatius – Ferdane Satır Tea Garden, GelsenkirchenRenate Janßen - Neighbourhood Tea CeremonyArtistic ProgrammeSocialFood & DrinkAll ages
- St. Anna – Hatay Engin Music Hall, GelsenkirchenConstructlab - "Hüttenspiel – A Space for Children"Education & Mediatio...Get Involved!School, Neighborhood...For kids
- St. Bonifatius – Ferdane Satır Tea Garden, GelsenkirchenOpen Walks in German from St. Bonifatius – Ferdane Satır Tea Garden to Thomaskirche – Hava Güleç Living ...Education & Mediatio...Open WalksWalkAll ages
- EssenThe Fabric of the Neighbourhood - Banner Workshop "Language in Public Space"Manifesta 16 +Get Involved!The Fabric of the Ne...WorkshopAll ages
- Thomaskirche – Hava Güleç Living Room, GelsenkirchenWeberei Kai - Workshop "Time for Baby Blankets"Artistic ProgrammeFor FamiliesWorkshopCrafts
About Manifesta 16 Ruhr
This edition investigates how we can reimagine empty church buildings as spaces for civic life, physical well-being and community encounter. Manifesta 16 Ruhr invites you to help us imagine new futures for these urban landmarks and to consider how such spaces might contribute to the social and cultural life of the Ruhr Area’s cities. Rather than presenting a conventional series of exhibitions, Manifesta 16 Ruhr brings together an intergenerational and interdisciplinary Artistic Team from across Europe to develop site-specific projects in each of the twelve churches, aiming to build a lasting impact with local communities.
