Theatre, art events and artist talks characterize the weekend in the Darmstadt forest
On Saturday and Sunday, August 29th and 30th, 2026, the Darmstadt Forest Art Trail host a program of events including theater, workshops, art performances, and an artist talk. A highlight will be the Antagon Theater's performance of "Ashes" on Saturday evening. Public guided tours will also be offered on both days.
The events follow the opening of the 13th International Forest Art Trail "Democratic Forest" and the three-week artists' symposium. According to the organizers, the accompanying program comprises a total of 54 events.
Forest Art Trail: Action days with Beckmans and Mellin
On Saturday and Sunday, two events are planned along the forest art trail from 2 pm to 6 pm each day. Fredie Beckmans will be presenting his "Forest Pulpits" project at Wolkenkuckucksheim and other locations. Anke Mellin will be offering the "Forest Approach" project and workshop at the "Bark Museum".
A public guided tour also starts at 3 p.m. each day at the information booth. Registration is not required, and participation costs €8. The public tours are offered every Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. until October 4th.
On Saturday, August 29th, the Antagon Theater will present the open-air performance "Ashes" at 6 pm. The meeting point is at the children's construction trailer at the first intersection after the information booth. This new physical theatre production combines 16 performers, live music, choral singing, and puppetry. Thematically, the ensemble explores climate catastrophe, war, and the question of societal new beginnings.
Artist talk about sound installations on Sunday
On Sunday, August 30th, at 4 pm, an artist talk will take place with Eric Leonardson from the USA and Bidisha Das. Their sound installations "Listening with Songs of the Trees" and "Sounding Earth" will be presented. The meeting point is the information booth.
Both are artists in residence at the Forest Art Center and are participating in the “Global Composition Conference 2026 – connective resonance for (post)humans.” The conference on sound, media, and the environment takes place from September 3rd to 6th at the Media Campus in Dieburg. Further events with Leonardson and Das will follow on September 2nd and 6th.
On Tuesday, September 1st, the reading “In the forest there are fences” with the literature group Poseidon is also on the program at 7 pm in the International Forest Art Centre.
Appointments on August 29th and 30th
Saturday, August 29, 2026
- 2–6 p.m.: “Forest Pulpits”, an event by Fredie Beckmans, at Wolkenkuckucksheim and other locations
- 2–6 p.m.: “Approaching the Forest”, an activity and workshop by Anke Mellin at the Bark Museum
- 3 p.m.: Public guided tour starting from the information booth, 8 euros, no registration required
- 6 p.m.: “Ashes” by the Antagon Theater, at the children’s construction trailer, first intersection after the information stand
Sunday, August 30, 2026
- 2–6 p.m.: “Forest Pulpits”, an event by Fredie Beckmans
- 2–6 p.m.: “Approaching the Forest”, activity and workshop by Anke Mellin
- 3 p.m.: Public guided tour starting from the information booth, 8 euros, no registration required
- 4 p.m.: Artist talk on “Listening with Songs of the Trees” by Eric Leonardson and “Sounding Earth” by Bidisha Das, meeting point: information booth
Further information:
Website: www.waldkunst.com
(Darmstadt – RED/PM/Ute Ritschel)
Featured image: Emanuela Camacci: Space time capsule. Photo C. Ehry
Featured image: Varol Topac: Tree of Life. Photo: C. Ehry
