Kunstfest Weimar opens on 21 August: artists float through Ilmpark; at the DNT, five dancers in forty second-hand dresses explore diverse identities; and in Apolda, cars become a nocturnal orchestra.

The programme kicks off at 5.30 pm with the open-air performance → RoZéO in Ilmpark: Performers from the French company Gratte Ciel float through the landscape on six-metre-high, flexible poles.

Then, Kunstfest Weimar → officially opens in the presence of the festival organisers, guests from Weimar and Thuringia, and with music by Olivia Wenzel.

The evening is then divided into two parts. At 8 pm, choreographer Leïla Ka explores the diverse facets of femininity in → Maldonne at the DNT’s Großes Haus – tickets are selling fast. At the same time, as part of the concert performance → Soundtrack for Midnight TAMURO by Japanese artist Masamitsu Araki at the Apolda Festwiese, vehicles fitted with high-end sound systems come together to form an extraordinary orchestra. Another performance will follow on 22 August. On both dates, a shuttle bus runs to Apolda Festwiese and back.

Finally, from 9 pm, we’ll be dancing the night away at the → Kunstfest opening party in the Lichthaus at the → Festival centre, with DJ Malu.

Until 6 September, you can look forward to 17 days and around 100 events featuring dance, theatre, performance art, music, film, literature and talks. The festival centre is the central meeting place for everyone and offers a free cultural programme from Thursday to Monday each week.

Kiosk.6 Sophienstiftsplatz
4 pm → FOTOkiosk exhibition opening

Ilmpark, Stern
5.30 pm → Gratte Ciel: RoZéO
6.15 pm → Grand opening with the festival organisers, the Thuringian State Secretary for Education, Dr Bernd Uwe Althaus, Mayor Ralf Kirsten and author and musician Olivia Wenzel
7 pm Musical closing

DNT, Großes Haus
8 pm → Leïla Ka: Maldonne (remaining tickets)

Apolda Festwiese (7.45 pm shuttle bus from Anna Amalia Library Weimar, free of charge upon registration)
8.30 pm → Masamitsu Araki: Soundtrack for Midnight TAMURO

Festival centre at the Lichthaus
9 pm → Kunstfest opening party with DJ Malu