Osten Festival in AfD-Hochburg Bitterfeld: Kunst zwischen Wiesen und Stromkraftwerk

The 'Osten' festival, founded by Aljoscha Begrich, is set to take place in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, a region known as a stronghold for the far-right AfD party. The festival, which describes itself as left-leaning, aims to bring contemporary art to an area that has experienced significant industrial decline. Begrich, who was seen wearing a T-shirt with the festival's logo at the Bitterfeld train station, has chosen the site of the former largest coal-fired power plant in the world in Zschornewitz as a key venue. The festival's timing, shortly after an election, is deliberate, and Begrich's approach is notably optimistic despite the political challenges. The event seeks to explore themes of faith, love, hope, and the East, reflecting on the region's transformation from an industrial heartland to a landscape of meadows and forests. The festival is part of a broader effort to sustain cultural initiatives in areas where right-wing populism has gained traction.