An audio walk about upheavals, new beginnings and empty spaces

The 1990s in Hellerau. After decades of military use under two dictatorships, the Festspielhaus—once a beacon of splendor—now stands in the area, in a state of disrepair. Behind the long-sealed walls, amid the stench of old diesel, in dilapidated rooms, and under a leaky roof, however, a free space for artistic experimentation is emerging.  

And today? What do the ’90s tell us about social change and empowerment? About spaces of possibility in art? What do people remember, what stories are recorded, and what is already utopia?

Armed with Walkmans and headphones, the audience embarks on a one-hour audio walk through the grounds of the Festspielhaus—exploring architectural layers, personal experiences, and secret traces in the cracks of the walls. Along the way, original sound bites blend with documentary material and acoustic visions to form a mixtape about today and tomorrow. Where does the cassette crackle? Where does the tape skip? What do we record over and what do we record anew? Until the cassette clicks.

The mp3 players/walkman and headphones can be borrowed from the visitor centre during the opening hours listed below.

All information at a glance

• Duration: approx. 1 hr. 30 min.
• Issue of mp3 players/walkman: Visitor Centre HELLERAU in the West side building (Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 56, 01109 Dresden)
• Latest distribution time: 2 hours before the visitor centre closes
• Starting point: in the foyer in front of the visitor centre
• Cost: 6/4 euros, plus 20 euros deposit for the mp3 players in cash
• Route information: approx. 3 km, moderate walking pace
• The audio walk is not barrier-free.

For "emergencies" regarding route guidance, please contact the visitor centre on 0351 264 62 46.

Opening hours:
Mon closed
Tue, Thu, Fri 11am - 6pm
Wed 11am - 4pm
Sat 1pm - 6pm
Sun/Public holiday (01/04 - 31/10) 11am - 4pm

"Spulen" is a co-production of STUDIO URBANISTAN and HELLERAU - European Centre for the Arts. Funded by the Cultural Foundation of the Free State of Saxony and the Schulze-Fielitz Foundation, Berlin