Festival transforms old coal-fired power station into art gallery

The more than 300-metre-high chimney of Chemnitz's northern combined heat and power plant is considered Saxony's tallest work of art. Next year, the disused power plant site at its foot will also become a gallery for contemporary art. In 2025, when Chemnitz expects visitors from all over the world as one of two European Capitals of Culture, the "Begehungen" festival will present works by artists dedicated to current topics such as resource consumption, biodiversity and climate change. The exhibition space includes a historic cooling tower from the 1960s, a huge metal container and three large halls, according to the organizers.

Every year since 2003, the "Begehungen" have transformed empty buildings into temporary galleries for contemporary art: from a prison to an old brewery and a former goods station to a decommissioned swimming pool. An area of 16,000 square meters is available on the power plant site - plenty of space for expansive artistic works.

Art festival in a new dimension

"The dimensions of the 2025 edition of the festival clearly surpass previous editions," explained co-project manager Frank Weinhold. The incentive is to create something unique next year. "We want to present ourselves as one of the summer highlights of the European Capital of Culture 2025." According to the information provided, works by around 30 artists from all over the world will be on display for a period of four weeks from mid-July to mid-August. At least 50,000 visitors are expected.

An artist-in-residence program with European partner festivals is planned, as well as an open call for artists to submit their ideas. This is due to start at the end of the year. The organizers are also in contact with artists who are to present works at the festival. The first names are to be published in the fall, it said.

At the beginning of this year, the last of two lignite-fired units at the Nord combined heat and power plant was shut down. Until then, the power plant was the largest producer of climate-damaging CO2 in the region - almost one million tons per year. The units were replaced by gas-fired power plants, reducing CO2 emissions by 60 percent according to the operator. With the phase-out of lignite, the colorful chimney also dried up. It was designed by artist Daniel Buren in 2013 and has since become a landmark of the city that can be seen from afar and shines brightly at night.