Manifesta 16 Ruhr — Herne: Catch the Light – build bridges

Manifesta 16 Ruhr — Europe's Art Biennial in the Pott

Manifesta is the European nomadic art biennial: every two years, it changes its venue and uses a European region as its stage. The 16th edition in 2026 is Manifesta 16 Ruhr, turning the entire Ruhr region into an art region — the main cities are Bochum, Duisburg, Essen, and Gelsenkirchen, with ten other cities hosting the supplementary format „Manifesta 16 +“ featuring projects in vacant post-war churches that are becoming temporary community spaces.

Herne's Contribution: Catch the Light – build bridges

The city of Herne is participating with a „Manifesta 16 +“ project by Hagen-based Pottporus gGmbH: the Christuskirche Wanne-Mitte — a former Protestant post-war church in the Wanne-Mitte district — will become the venue for „Catch the Light – build bridges“, a fusion of experimental dance theatre and light art.

Pottporus — Dance from the Pott

Pottporus gGmbH is one of the most renowned independent dance and theatre groups in the Ruhr area. Their productions combine HipHop, urban, and contemporary dance with theatre, music, and visual arts. For Manifesta 16, Pottporus is developing „Catch the Light – build bridges“ specifically for the space of the Christuskirche — light installations react to dance movements, and the architecture of the empty church space becomes part of the choreography.

Herne — Right in the Middle of the Ruhr Area

The independent city of Herne is located between Bochum, Recklinghausen, and Gelsenkirchen in the heart of the Ruhr area — compact, densely populated, with a long history of mining and steel industry. In the Wanne-Mitte district (the second-largest district), the Christuskirche has been known for several years as a cultural meeting place for the „Halloherne“ initiative. Manifesta 16 is using this prior experience as an anchor for its Herne program line.