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 empty Schauspielhaus theatre into a temporary gallery this summer. The event, running from June 19 to July 5 on Eventbrite and Ticketmaster, will explore how digital media and AI-generated images influence democracy. This marks the first time the festival utilizes the theatre, which has been vacant 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 risks to democratic processes. Since 2010, Begehungen has repurposed abandoned 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 subject of debate for years. Activists occupied the building in 2023 to protest its potential closure and cuts to cultural funding. Renovation plans were later paused due to escalating costs. Despite its uncertain future, the theatre will now host the festival alongside the Theater der Welt event.
Organizers view the venue as an appropriate backdrop for this year's theme. The festival's history of transforming neglected spaces aligns with its 2026 focus on illusion, perception, and the power of digital manipulation.
The Schauspielhaus will open its doors to the public for the first time in four years. The festival runs for 16 days, featuring exhibitions, performances, and discussions on media and democracy. After the event, the building's long-term fate remains undecided, with no confirmed plans for renovation or reuse.
