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Stadtbad Live! Open Call
Context
The Stadtbad was designed and built in 1928 by Bauhaus architect Hans Hertlein as a means to make effective use of the waste heat produced by the neighbouring 1913 brown coal power station. As a result, the historic Stadtbad stood proud as a social, productive and cultural hub of Luckenwalde for almost 70 years, but has been empty and predominantly defunct since 1991.
Starting 2025, the Stadtbad will undergo a three-year renovation process of refurbishment funded by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR) and the City of Luckenwalde.
At the heart of this new cultural venue will be a community programming strand - providing space, technical know-how and curatorial support to the community to realise their cultural events there. In addition, the former city pool will be entirely powered by CO2 neutral Kunststrom heat and electricity generated by the neighbouring E-WERK, a former brown coal power station turned regenerative power station, contemporary art centre and Kunststrom Labor by artist Pablo Wendel and curator Helen Turner in 2019.
The reopening of Stadtbad will coincide with the 100th anniversary of the Bauhaus building. By then, the building will once again be fully powered by the neighbouring E-WERK, except this time with 100% CO2 neutral Kunststrom heat and electricity.
The Stadtbad was built in 1928, and was used as a municipal pool until 1991. In 2028, on its 100th anniversary, the pool will transform into a brand new cultural event venue bringing together community programming with international acts. It will run on clean and hyperlocal Kunststrom heat and electricity from E-WERK across the street.
Stadtbad Live! is an open call for residents of Brandenburg to imagine cultural possibilities and infuse the iconic Bauhaus City Pool in Luckenwalde with energy.
Stadtbad Live! is calling all cultural practitioners in Brandenburg, including comedians, musicians, athletes, wrestlers, dancers, rappers, speakers, artists, performers, theorists, composers, symphonists to propose a cultural activation for the Bauhaus Stadtbad Luckenwalde. Your proposal could be for a performance, comedy sketch, dance-off, wrestling match, DJ set, symphony, panel discussion, temporary exhibition - all cultural activation is welcome!
A selection of applications from the open call will be selected by a prestigious cultural jury, and premiere on 12. July in an ambitious back to back programme, as part of E-WERK’s annual Sommerfest. If selected, you will be provided a fee, technical equipment, assistance, international promotion and the opportunity to perform in front of local, regional and international audiences.
We are looking for artistic contributions from all over Brandenburg. Maybe it's music, dance, sports? Maybe it's comedy, poetry, debate? Maybe it's a handy, crafty workshop?
Brandenburg residents, help us shape the future of your Stadtbad. Help us to empower that change.
Culture needs your energy!
Practicalities
The only conditions are: time, place and duration. The presentation will be on 12 July 2025 as part of E-WERK’s Sommerfest. You will have max 60 minutes to set up, stage/perform and build down. We will select ten activities to perform back-to-back. All events are live, in person, open to all and for free.
Apply with your Live! idea until 20 May. You can submit an application form or call an answering machine. Our jury will select the winning proposals. All selected projects receive a 500 EURO artist fee and the E-WERK team will take care of your technical requirements on that day.
Meet the jury
Anna Schneider
Anna Schneider has been director of the MINSK Kunsthaus in Potsdam since April 2025. She was previously curator at the Haus der Kunst in Munich and co-founder of the Hamid Zénati Estate. She connects GDR art with the global present - locally rooted, internationally networked.
FM Einheit
Musician, composer, performer. Known for Einstürzende Neubauten, Decoder and work with Diamanda Galás & Pan Sonic. Winner of two radio play awards. Recently: FM Modul, L'exposition d'un rêve, Der Goldene Handschuh.
Mieke Miami
Multi-instrumentalist, singer & producer from Hamburg, now living and working in Luckenwalde. In 2024 she released her third album 'Birdland', which she presented live on stage with her band at the Stadtbad in Luckenwalde in October 2024.
Music editor & music teacher Caroline Fritsch & art historian Mark Kuhrke from Alhambra Luckenwalde e.V.
Since 2002, the Luckenwalde Music and Culture Association has been revitalising the former Alhambra cinema with a bar, concerts and culture. Voluntary, open, committed. The members also organise the annual Hain & Zunder open-air festival in Elsthal, which attracts many people from Brandenburg and Berlin.
Are you ready to empower Brandenburg? Apply now!
The Stadtbad Live x E-WERK Luckenwalde project is a lighthouse example of how, through arts and culture, it is possible to embody petro cultural histories to develop innovative and regenerative permacultural models of the future.
In 2028, Stadtbad Live Luckenwalde will become E-WERK’s latest hyperlocal Kunststrom client - forging an energetic reconnection of these two buildings, established 100 years ago.
FAQs
Who can apply? Initially, we stated that applicants had to be residents of Brandenburg. However, we have since made this rule less strict. Now, all people who are culturally active and have a connection to Brandenburg can apply, including those who were born or grew up in Brandenburg, those who currently live or work here, and anyone else with a connection to the region. We are especially encouraging local collectives and associations to apply.
Who is organising this? E-WERK, in collaboration with partners at University of Amsterdam. It's funded by an EU research project about how using old industrial heritage in the green transition can give hope and confidence to people.
What should I know about Stadtbad Luckenwalde? It is a listed building by Bauhaus architect Hans Hertlein, built in 1928. It used to be powered by the neighbouring lignite plant E-WERK until the power plant stopped it´s energy production. It has been underused ever since.
What is the selection process? The jury will make a preselection by the end of May. We might invite the shortlisted for a short interview. The final selection will be announced mid-June.
How much is the fee and budget? We offer €500 to each selected intervention. We cover tech in house, so please mention all your technical requirements in your application. The day will be documented and recorded and we will provide you with a copy that you are free to use.
I have more questions. You can also send your questions to info@kunststrom.com. We will update this FAQ with the new questions and answers.
