The area surrounding the historic railway viaduct, the fast cycle route, and the Ruhr Bridge is transformed into an artistic playground. Vacant railway arches are converted into art installations, and the public space becomes a place for creative encounters.
Photos: © Land NRW / Jutta Prechtel
Dates
24 May – 8 June 2025
Location
Bahnviadukt, Ruhrbrücke, Rathausmarkt
Playground
Rathausmarkt, 45468 Mülheim an der Ruhr Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday, 14:00 - 20:00
Grand Opening
24 May 2025, from 16:00 – Rathausmarkt, Mülheim an der Ruhr
The City of Play invites you to celebrate the grand opening in Mülheim with a programme of games, workshops, and music.
Opening speech and greetings
DJ sets
Concert featuring the Mülheim-based musicians' collective Nassau
Climate game “Climate Casino” with Sebastian Quack
Participatory origami installation “Mülheim Unfold” with Frank Bölter, Workshop on designing table tennis paddles “DIY Ping Pong” with Markus Zimmermann
City Talk “Understanding the City Playfully: Art and Play in Dialogue” & Public Dinner
25 May 2025, from 16:00 – Rathausmarkt, Mülheim an der Ruhr
Why is human beings inherently playful? And how are art and play connected? Artists, curators, and scientists will explore the many facets of play and discuss its role in the process of world appropriation. Friedrich Schiller once said: “Man is only fully human where he plays.”
Guest speakers: Stefanie Klingemann (Curatorial Team, City of Play), Sebastian Quack (Artist, Game Designer), Sebastian Sowa (Sowatorini Ruhr), Prof. Dr. Jens Junge (Institute for Ludology)
Moderated by Annekathrin Kohout with an impulse from Jens Junge
The subsequent Playful Public Dinner invites attendees to enjoy a communal evening meal.
More information in the Call for Action.
Mid-View: New Circus “Über Brücken” & Inauguration of “FLUSS”
31 May 2025, from 16:00 – Rathausmarkt, Mülheim an der Ruhr
For the mid-view, the mural “FLUSS” by artists Maik & Dirk Löbbert will be inaugurated in the arches of the railway viaduct.
Under the title “Über Brücken,” the City of Play presents a diverse programme of New Circus. Juggling, parkour, freerunning, urban dance, and aerial artistry will come together playfully in a “Programme in Motion.” This performance highlights the architecture of the railway viaduct with its vacant railway arches and the adjacent Ruhr Bridge. Performances will take place at 17:00 and 20:00.
DJ sets
Participatory origami installation “Mülheim Unfold” with Frank Bölter
Workshop on designing table tennis paddles “DIY Ping Pong” with Markus Zimmermann
"Free Play" – Jamming Session
31 May 2025, 19:00 – 22:00 - Bahnviadukt, Mülheim an der Ruhr
Makroscope e.V. invites you to a jam session. For one evening, the vacant arches of the railway viaduct will be transformed into an open-air stage.
"Im Fluss – Sports Market"
1 June 2025, from 14:00 - Bahnviadukt, Mülheim an der Ruhr
Together with Makroscope e.V., the City of Play invites you to a colourful sports market in the vacant arches of the railway viaduct. Sports clubs will showcase their activities and community life. Sports and play equipment will transform the railway viaduct into urban play areas, encouraging everyone to join in.
Radio Residency & Creative Market
7 June 2025, from 16:00 - Bahnviadukt & Rathausmarkt, Mülheim an der Ruhr
The creative possibilities of the vacant arches of the railway viaduct are showcased at the Creative and Flea Market. There will be browsing, arts and crafts, and a variety of creative displays.
At the same time, the Playground will be ringing out at Rathausmarkt. As part of the ongoing programme series of the “Radio Residency,” Düsseldorf’s online community radio station “Call Shop Radio” will present a diverse music programme.
Finissage
8 June 2025, from 16:00 - Rathausmarkt & Ruhrpromenade, Mülheim an der Ruhr
The programme in Mülheim concludes with a symbolic departure across the Ruhr. Artist Frank Bölter will set the previously participatively folded origami boat afloat and send it on its way along the Ruhr towards Duisburg.
The final evening will be spent together along the Ruhrpromenade at a long table. The public dinner invites everyone to enjoy a communal meal and socialise.
Participative origami installation “Mülheim Unfold” with Frank Bölter.
