Weimar in flood fever: Fluten” festival brings art to the water!

Weimar in flood fever: Fluten” festival brings art to the water!

On October 4, 2025, preparations for a very special festival dedicated to water are about to begin in Weimar. Cosmo Schüppel observes on the banks of the Weimar Asbach, a narrow stream that can quickly swell when it rains. The town lies in an area that was once a moor and is now at risk of flooding. The art association “Stockwerk” has thought about it and is planning a festival to deal with flooding, which is open to all interested citizens and art lovers as the “Flood” festival. The event takes place at seven different venues along the Asbach and focuses on the multifaceted relationship between people and water.

A special highlight of the festival is the exhibition “Before the Flood”, which is presented in the gasworks. Here, premonitions and the feeling of threat from the elemental forces are artistically processed. An installation by the artist Joachim Perez, in which four chairs - one hanging from the ceiling and three standing on filled, elegant fabric bags - invites visitors to think about the fragility and dynamics of water. In the Galerie Hause, the feeling of being flooded is treated and depicted with inflatable flood breakers as well as accompanying videos and paintings.

The challenges of flooding

Flooding is not a foreign phenomenon to the region. In September 2024, flooding occurred in Germany for the third time within a short period of time, primarily due to climate change and heavy rain. WWF highlights that such extreme weather conditions will continue to increase in the future, affecting us all. The WWF reports that the causes are complex, including the increase in heavy rainfall and the loss of natural floodplains, which have been reduced by 80% in some cases in Germany.

In connection with these problems, Kraska in Berkel is calling for the use of the inner city of Berkel to relieve the flooding. He notices that the flood has exposed the tree roots and that trees are threatening to fall into the flood. Backes points out that if the water level is above the mean water level, the water is allowed to flow over walls. Things have now become critical several times, which reminds us how important solid flood protection measures are.

Be creative with water

The accompanying program of the “Fluten” festival is also promising. It includes walks along existing waterways, a themed book club and a cooking workshop focused on “edible wetlands”. There is also a special water bar designed by Nora Spiekermann, where visitors can bring their own tap water and take part in a water tasting. The aim is to understand water and its movements not only on a scientific level, but also to experience them emotionally.

As we see in Weimar, dealing with floods is not just a question of technical protection, but also a creative and social process. The Flood Festival could be a step in the right direction to encourage a broader discussion about the challenges and opportunities of water. The art association “Stockwerk” is doing good business here because the topic affects us all – directly or indirectly.

Given the current challenges posed by flooding, it is more important than ever to proactively address these issues and work together to find solutions that are both ecologically and socially viable.