Manifesta 16 Ruhr in St. Anna Church Bochum: Experience Art in Church Space

Event: Manifesta 16 Ruhr in St. Anna Church Bochum in St. Anna-Kirche, Goldhammer Str. 14 A on 3. October 2026

Date and Time

3. October 2026 11:00

Location

Bochum
44 Bochum, Deutschland

Price

Free

About this Event

Exhibitions & Museums

Mood

Relaxed

Venue Type

Inside

Manifesta 16 Ruhr in St. Anna Church: Art, Church, and New Perspectives in Bochum

With Manifesta 16 Ruhr, St. Anna Church in Bochum transforms into a place of artistic engagement, architectural remembrance, and societal questions about what sacred spaces can become in a changing city. The Biennale addresses post-war and church architecture of the Ruhr area and opens it up for contemporary art, mediation, and encounter. ([manifesta16.org](https://manifesta16.org/about?utm_source=openai))

An Art Experience Between Expressionism and the Present

St. Anna Church, designed by Wilhelm Peter in 1929, is located in the Bochum district of Goldhamme, an area closely connected to the steel industry and the working history of the city. The building combines simple expressionist forms with a clear, structured spatial effect. Additionally, windows by Nikolaus Bette feature vibrant organic motifs in red, blue, and green, giving the interior an almost painterly depth. ([manifesta16.org](https://manifesta16.org/venues/st-anna-bochem?utm_source=openai))

Between Art Installation, Space, and Social Dialogue

Manifesta 16 Ruhr is not conceived as a classic exhibition, but as a biennial project for communal use, cultural education, and artistic intervention. In Bochum, former churches become cultural community spaces where exhibitions, workshops, performances, and mediation formats intersect. For St. Anna Church, Pedro Cabrita Reis, Kateryna Lysovenko, Pınar Öğrenci, Mykola Ridnyi, and Wilhelm Sasnal have been announced; Anda Rottenberg and Krzysztof Kosciuczuk accompany the project as Creative Mediators. ([manifesta16.org](https://manifesta16.org/venues/st-anna-bochem?utm_source=openai))

Exhibition Atmosphere with Educational Purpose

Manifesta 16 Ruhr intentionally focuses on mediation: Tours, Open Walks, and programs for various target groups are at the core of the Biennale. According to the official website, the education and mediation program is aimed at diverse visitor groups, including school classes and local initiatives. This creates an art experience that is not only observed but discussed, questioned, and negotiated together. ([manifesta16.org](https://www.manifesta16.org/about-manifesta?utm_source=openai))

Accessibility and Visit in Bochum

According to the Manifesta website, St. Anna Church is wheelchair accessible; however, the organizer points out that there may be restrictions in some historical areas of the church. There are no designated wheelchair-accessible restrooms at St. Anna. Admission is free and does not require a ticket, keeping the threshold for a spontaneous visit to the exhibition pleasantly low. ([manifesta16.org](https://manifesta16.org/contact))

Those interested in contemporary art in dialogue with architecture, city history, and social change will find an exhibition of special depth here. Manifesta 16 Ruhr in St. Anna Church invites visitors to see the church space anew and experience Bochum as a cultural location with an open present. A visit is definitely worthwhile – especially live, this Biennale reveals its full aesthetic and intellectual power. ([manifesta16.org](https://manifesta16.org/about?utm_source=openai))

Official Channels of Manifesta 16 Ruhr:

Sources:

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