Festival attracts 56,000 visitors to the old power plant site

The Chemnitz art festival "Begehungen" attracted around 56,000 visitors - more than ever before. "We are overwhelmed by this enormous response," said festival director Lars Neuenfeld at the end of the 22nd edition. As the European Capital of Culture, Chemnitz attracted many guests from Germany and abroad this year. This was clearly noticeable.

Every year since 2003, the "Begehungen" have transformed vacant properties into temporary galleries for contemporary art - such as a former prison, a disused swimming pool or an old train station. This year, the site of a decommissioned lignite-fired power plant was the venue.

Works by more than 30 artists

Under the title "Everything is Interaction", installations, photographs, drawings and sculptures by more than 30 artists and artist groups were on display. Hito Steyerl, Rikuo Ueda, Tina Bara and Olaf Nicolai were among those represented.

The positive feedback encouraged the team to start preparations for next year's festival soon, Neuenfeld explained. The exact location for the 23rd edition has not yet been decided.