How much does it cost to enter Manifesta 16 Ruhr at St. Anna?

Admission is free and no ticket is required.

When does the event take place?

On July 17, 2026, starting at 11:00 AM at St. Anna Church in Bochum.

What are the opening hours during the biennial?

Tuesday to Thursday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Friday and Saturday from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Is St. Anna Church wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the site is accessible via a ramp. However, a barrier-free toilet is not available on-site.

Are there tours or educational offerings?

Yes, Manifesta 16 Ruhr offers Open Walks, Group Walks, and an education and mediation program.

Where exactly is the event location?

St. Anna, Goldhammer Str. 14A, 44793 Bochum, in the Goldhamme district.

Manifesta 16 Ruhr transforms Bochum's St. Anna Church into an Art Venue

Name: Manifesta 16 Ruhr at St. Anna Church Bochum
Start: 2026-07-17T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-07-17T20:00:00+02:00
Location: St. Anna-Kirche

Manifesta 16 Ruhr at St. Anna Church: When Art Meets Memory

With Manifesta 16 Ruhr, St. Anna Church in Bochum opens as an extraordinary place for contemporary art, cultural education, and public debate. The European nomadic biennial transforms post-war church spaces in the Ruhr area into places of encounter, exchange, and artistic practice. In Bochum, St. Anna in the Goldhamme district is brought into focus, a building from 1929, whose history is closely linked to the steel industry and working culture. ([manifesta.org](https://manifesta.org/editions/manifesta-16-ruhr/about?utm_source=openai))

A Church Space as Aesthetic Experience

Upon entering St. Anna, one does not experience a neutral white cube, but a space with historical depth, architectural tension, and visible materiality. The expressionist building by Wilhelm Peter, complemented by glass works from Nikolaus Bette, creates an atmosphere between concentration and openness. It is precisely this space of tension that makes the artistic experience of Manifesta 16 Ruhr so appealing: The exhibition conceives of the church not only as a sacred space but as a socially charged place with a new function. ([staging.manifesta16.org](https://staging.manifesta16.org/de/venues/st-anna-bochem))

Curatorial Attitude and Programmatic Power

The biennial relies on a dialogical curation where art, architecture, and social reality intertwine. For Bochum, Anda Rottenberg and Krzysztof Kosciuczuk are responsible for the curatorial context; Manifesta sees itself as a platform that brings together local and international perspectives and strengthens cultural participation. The program of the 16th edition includes artistic interventions, performances, workshops, and family offerings and asks about the future of vacant churches as community spaces. ([manifesta.org](https://manifesta.org/news/manifesta-ruhr-announces-artistic-team?utm_source=openai))

Goldhamme, Industrial History, and Present

Goldhamme exemplifies the transformation of the Ruhr area: industrial history, neighborhood, migration, and religious architecture meet here. St. Anna Church thus becomes a resonance space for questions of community, memory culture, and urban future. The selected artists engage with these contexts and connect them with a contemporary analysis of works that goes beyond mere object presentation. ([staging.manifesta16.org](https://staging.manifesta16.org/de/venues/st-anna-bochem))

Education, Tours, and Cultural Education

A special added value of Manifesta 16 Ruhr lies in its educational work. The program includes Open Walks and Group Walks, as well as educational offerings for schools and groups. Manifesta explicitly focuses on cultural education, dialog formats, and participatory approaches to not only showcase art but to explore it together. This creates a low-threshold access to contemporary art, architecture, and urban space for visitors. ([manifesta16.org](https://manifesta16.org/de/visit))

Practical Visit: Free, Accessible, Easily Reachable

Admission to Manifesta 16 Ruhr is free and does not require a ticket. The opening hours during the biennial are from Tuesday to Thursday from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM, Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and Sundays from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM. St. Anna is wheelchair accessible; the site can be reached via a ramp, although some areas may be limited due to historical constraints. A barrier-free toilet is not available at this location. ([manifesta16.org](https://manifesta16.org/de/visit))

On July 17, 2026, St. Anna Church in Bochum invites you to an art experience that transforms architecture, urban history, and contemporary art into an impressive exhibition atmosphere. Those who experience Manifesta live not only discover artworks but also a cultural space of thought for the future of the Ruhr area. A visit is definitely worthwhile. ([staging.manifesta16.org](https://staging.manifesta16.org/de/venues/st-anna-bochem))