Gera: Farewell to Gitta Heil – Where does the future of the Biennale lead?

Gera: Farewell to Gitta Heil – Where does the future of the Biennale lead?

A farewell with passion: Gitta Heil has announced her resignation after 20 years as honorary curator of the Hohler Biennale in Gera. The 81-year-old, who has been guiding visitors through the city's historic beer warehouses since 2005, describes the Biennale as a project close to her heart. She fulfilled her task with passion and the exchange with artists was particularly important to her. After two decades, the time has now come to say goodbye. “It requires a lot of effort, and I think it's time to stop,” said Heil, as MDR reports.

But there is rumbling in the background. The board of the Hohler Association, which organizes the biennale, is pondering whether a new biennale should even be organized in the future. A successor for Heil is not yet in sight. Wieland Kögel, the association's second chairman, makes it clear that the search for financial resources remains a central challenge. Discussions about the future of the Biennale have not yet taken place, although the Gera City Cultural Office emphasizes that this exhibition is something very special. However, greater city influence on the Biennale could become a reality in the coming years.

Art underground

The Hohler Biennale, which takes place every two years, opened its doors for the 12th time this year. In the old beer cellars under the old town of Gera, this edition was dedicated to 25 artists and groups under the theme “entertainment”, many of whom are exhibiting there for the first time. Among them is the honorary president of the Berlin Academy of Arts, Klaus Staeck (87 years old), who is taking part with a series of posters. One of these posters shows a humorous representation of the globe with the note: “The rental property must be treated with care and returned in good condition,” as Welt reports.

The Biennale is not only a showcase for contemporary art, but also a place for the awarding of the German Installation Art Prize. In addition, a three-meter-high peace pole was erected, which reminds visitors of an important message with the words “May there be peace on earth.”

A look into the future

With the end of the current biennale on October 17, 2025, the focus is not only on Gitta Heil's resignation, but also on the question of what happens next. The renovation of the culture and congress center in Gera is the next priority project. In two years, at the next biennale, the situation will be reassessed. Heil hopes that her beloved project will be placed in “loving hands” with fresh ideas and impulses from young art historians. The future remains exciting, and the people of Gera can be excited to see what new cultural heights the Biennale could reach.

To underline the importance of art in Germany, it is worth mentioning that the Foreign Office not only supports international art projects, but has also launched numerous programs to promote German artists and their works. The focus is on conveying artistic diversity and quality at home and abroad, which underlines the high status of contemporary art in Germany, as can be found on the website of the [Foreign Office](https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/aussenpolitik/kultur-und-gesellschaft/kulturprogramme-node/kunstund exhibitionen-node).