From 31 July to 20 September 2026, Niederlausitz will present a wide-ranging art and cultural program in cooperation with the districts and the city of Cottbus. Works by international, national and regional artists from all areas of the visual arts will be on display.
The openart Lausitz Biennale is a new biennial format for contemporary art in rural areas. Under the motto "Kunst formt Räume - art shapes spaces", a conscious reference is made to architecture in order to draw an artistic-critical balance of structural change in Lusatia in Brandenburg.
35 years have now passed since the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of the two German states. During this time, once functioning factories, farms and production facilities have been closed and the adjoining residential buildings have been left to slowly deteriorate due to vacancy.
After the fall of the Wall, a young generation of artists from East and West Germany began to redefine the concept of improvisation in vacant spaces and derelict areas. Creatives from all over the world, with their different cultural contexts, also contributed to further developing these approaches and shaping new forms of expression.
Over time, the spaces that were initially only used temporarily were no longer seen as a temporary solution, but developed into a new fundamental principle that involved the creation of transformative forms of being. The daily production and design of new spaces became an integral part of the artistic self-image. This gave rise to a "technology of improvisation" as the defining artistic practice of the 21st century.
Against this backdrop, the openart Lausitz Biennale was created as a new, biennial format for contemporary art in rural areas. It will be held for the first time from July 30 to September 20, 2026 in the districts of Elbe-Elster, Oberspreewald-Lausitz, Dahme-Spreewald, Spree-Neiße and the independent city of Cottbus. Under the motto "Kunst formt Räume - art shapes spaces", a conscious reference is made to architecture in order to draw an artistic-critical balance of the structural change in Lusatia in Brandenburg.
Project initiators
- Atelierhof Wernzhain e.V.
- Maysun Kellow, project management
- Michaela van den Driesch, Artistic Director
The cultural diversity in Lusatia is further emphasized by the involvement of local initiatives and actors. The participating locations symbolically form a colorful ribbon that spans the entire Brandenburg region of Lusatia. The program is complemented by live events, workshops and participatory hands-on activities.
Further information