The European nomadic biennial Manifesta is coming to the Ruhr region, but instead of occupying industrial heritage sites, it will take over empty church buildings—with free admission. In Gelsenkirchen-Ückendorf, children and teenagers have already been testing the space by dribbling basketballs inside the deconsecrated St. Joseph's Church, exploring how community can find a place in former sacred spaces.
This matters because Manifesta's choice to repurpose vacant churches rather than industrial landmarks reframes the Ruhr's post-industrial identity and raises urgent questions about the role of community gathering spaces in an era of secularization and urban change. By offering free entry and activating these buildings with participatory activities, the biennial challenges traditional art audiences and tests whether art can foster new forms of social connection in places once built for spiritual congregation.