The Communities and Education Programme emerges from collaborative research with neighbourhood communities around the exhibition venues and works closely with artists, schools, museums, associations and other spaces.

Manifesta 16 Ruhr explores alternative ways to bring diverse communities together and develop programmes that foster shared perspectives within the Ruhr Area. By working in churches that are no longer in use or abandoned, Manifesta 16 aims to collaboratively reimagine neighbourhoods, exploring new sustainable approaches that reflect the needs of local communities.

The projects address a wide range of topics such as youth participation, empowerment, urban art and spaces for creative experimentation. Some projects present their outcomes during the biennial, while others are process-oriented and focus on exchange and shared experiences.