New directors face funding hurdles for Weimar Art Festival

The Weimar Art Festival is set to present approximately 100 events under the fresh artistic leadership of Katharina Germo, 35, and Juliane Hahn, 39. This marks the first time the two women will curate the program for the festival, recognized as one of East Germany's most significant platforms for contemporary arts.

From August 21 to September 6, international contemporary artists will present a diverse program spanning theater, dance, music, film, performances, and exhibitions. While established venues in Weimar, such as the Ilmpark, the Theater, and the Herzogin Anna Amalia Bibliothek, will host events, the festival will also extend its reach to other locations in Thuringia.

Apolda is among the host cities, kicking off the festival with a nocturnal open-air concert. This event will feature a specially composed suite by Japanese artist Masamitsu Araki, performed using sound systems from customized cars. In Weimar, an open-air performance by a French acrobatic group will see artists seemingly float through the Ilmpark on six-meter-high poles.

The festival's program also includes three contemporary theater works from Moldova, Greece, and Lebanon that explore themes of memory gaps. One notable piece, "96 Percent," by Greek director Prodromos Tsinikoris, delves into the near-total annihilation of the Jewish community in Thessaloniki during the German occupation in World War II.

However, the new artistic directors face significant challenges regarding festival financing. With just eleven weeks until the opening, they are still awaiting final funding confirmation from the Thuringian Ministry of Culture. Although a general funding commitment exists, the official grant notification has not yet been issued, and feedback from third-party funders is also pending. Weimar's mayor, Peter Kleine, described the situation as making "planning difficult." The state is the primary funder, alongside the city, contributing approximately 650,000 euros this year, while the city is providing around 300,000 euros.

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difficult planning