Manifesta 16 Ruhr biennial draws high attendance despite uncertain legacy

The Manifesta 16 Ruhr biennial concluded on October 4 after a 106-day run across Duisburg, Essen, Gelsenkirchen, and Bochum. The event recorded 185,855 visits to its 12 primary church venues, exceeding initial forecasts by approximately 86 percent. When combined with roughly 9,000 participations in the Manifesta 16+ local program, the total engagement reached nearly 195,000.

While the attendance figures indicate significant public interest, the long-term legacy of the biennial remains uncertain. Many of the projects utilized former or underused postwar churches as sites for contemporary art and community activities. However, few of these projects have defined future plans, several venues have returned to being vacant, and one site is slated for demolition.