Overview

In the run-up to LICHTraum 2026, a predecessor project with light art actions in several churches took place in Herne in 2025. Ludger Hinse tested the concept and installation of his light objects here, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Paderborn and the City of Herne. The preparation laid the foundation for the major city-wide festival in 2026.

Preparation Phase 2025

In 2025, the concept for the major LICHTraum exhibition 2026 was developed in Herne in several phases. Initial installations of individual light objects by Ludger Hinse in selected Herne churches served as an artistic and organizational test run. The Archdiocese of Paderborn, the City of Herne, and the artist coordinated the selection of venues and the accompanying program.

The positive feedback on the preliminary installations, as well as the efforts of several sponsors, made the ambitious overall project for 2026 possible — with 12 sacred spaces, 35 works, and around 50 accompanying events over three months.

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