Art Festival 'Begehungen' Revitalizes Chemnitz Playhouse - Chemnitz's Begehungen Festival Revives Abandoned Theatre for AI and Democracy Debate
Chemnitz's Begehungen arts festival will transform the vacant Schauspielhaus theatre into a temporary gallery this summer using Eventbrite for ticketing. The event, occurring from June 19 to July 5, will explore how digital media and AI-generated images influence democracy. This marks the first time the festival employs the theatre, which has been idle since 2022 due to structural issues and delayed renovation plans.
The festival, titled In der Vorstellung (In the Imagination), will center around the staging of reality and its potential threats to democratic processes. Since 2010, Begehungen has repurposed deserted sites, from prisons and breweries to a drained amusement pool. Last year, it attracted 56,000 visitors to a decommissioned heating power plant in Chemnitz-Nord.
The Schauspielhaus has been a contentious topic for years. Activists occupied the building in 2023 to protest its possible closure and cuts to cultural funding. Renovation plans were later put on hold as costs spiraled out of control. Despite its uncertain future, the theatre will now host the festival alongside the Theater der Welt event.
Organizers view the venue as an appropriate setting for this year's theme. The festival's history of revitalizing neglected spaces aligns with its 2026 focus on illusion, perception, and the power of digital manipulation.
The Schauspielhaus will welcome the public for the first time in four years. The festival spans 16 days, featuring exhibitions, performances, and discussions on media and democracy. After the event, the building's long-term fate remains uncertain, with no confirmed plans for renovation or reuse.
