Is the entry to Manifesta 16 Ruhr free?

Yes, entry is free and open to all.

When does the visit at the Gethsemane Church take place?

On 22.08.2026 starting at 11:00 AM. On Saturdays, the exhibition locations are open until 7:00 PM according to Manifesta.

How can I get to the Gethsemane Church?

It is recommended to arrive by tram or bus. Especially line 302 connects Bochum and Gelsenkirchen.

Is the exhibition location barrier-free?

The venues are accessible without steps via ramps. However, there may be restrictions on accessibility in certain historical church areas.

Are there guided tours or educational offers?

Yes, Manifesta 16 Ruhr offers Open Walks for individuals and Group Walks for groups as well as a wide range of educational programs.

Can I ask questions or get information on site?

Yes, at the information and merchandise points of Manifesta, visitors receive orientation and support.

Manifesta 16 Ruhr transforms Bochum's Gethsemane Church into a place of contemporary art

Name: Manifesta 16 Ruhr at the Gethsemane Church Bochum
Start: 2026-08-22T13:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-08-22T21:00:00+02:00
Location: Gethsemane-Kirche

Manifesta 16 Ruhr in Bochum: Art experiences a new place of memory

The Gethsemane Church in Bochum will become a place for contemporary art, encounters, and aesthetic experience as part of Manifesta 16 Ruhr. This year's European Biennale is dedicated to the repurposing of post-war church spaces, connecting artistic research with social reflection. ([manifesta16.org](https://manifesta16.org/about?utm_source=openai))

A church space as a stage for new perspectives

Bochum's Gethsemane Church, built as an emergency church by Otto Bartning from 1947 to 1950, brings a unique historical and architectural presence to the exhibition. The space itself tells of reconstruction, community, and change - exactly the themes that Manifesta 16 Ruhr makes visible through art, architecture, and educational programs. ([manifesta16.org](https://manifesta16.org/venues/gethsemane-kirche?utm_source=openai))

Between installation, dialogue, and cultural education

Manifesta 16 Ruhr does not see itself as a classic exhibition of individual masterpieces, but as an open laboratory for installations, performances, workshops, and participatory formats. In Bochum, Anda Rottenberg and Krzysztof Kosciuczuk collaborate with international and local perspectives on a dialogical exhibition format that transforms post-war churches into places of solidarity and collective imagination. ([manifesta16.org](https://manifesta16.org/de/artistic-teams?utm_source=openai))

What visitors can expect in Bochum

The exhibition opens an intense art experience space, where light, materiality, and the unique acoustics of the church building shape the contemplation of the works. The program focuses on exchange, neighborhood, and cultural education - with offerings that reconnect the district, its history, and the present of art. ([manifesta16.org](https://manifesta16.org/venues/gethsemane-kirche?utm_source=openai))

Practical information for the visit

Entry to Manifesta 16 Ruhr is free. It is open on Saturdays from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM; the exhibition locations are accessible without steps via ramps, although there may be restrictions in certain historical church areas. Public transportation is recommended, especially tram line 302 between Bochum and Gelsenkirchen. ([manifesta16.org](https://manifesta16.org/de/visit))

For those who want to experience contemporary art beyond the white exhibition space, there is an unusually dense connection of place, history, and present. A visit to the Gethsemane Church is worthwhile for everyone who understands art as a social process, architectural experience, and cultural encounter. ([manifesta16.org](https://manifesta16.org/venues/gethsemane-kirche?utm_source=openai))