Freiheitsleuchten - Genius Loci Weimar

Freiheitsleuchten - 500 years of Peasant's War

Freiheitsleuchten - 500 years of Peasant's War

Exactly 500 years ago, tens of thousands of peasants rose up in an unprecedented revolt—a historic moment that still resonates today. What began as a local protest against hunger, exploitation, and arbitrary rule escalated into a mass uprising: the Peasants' War of 1524/25. But this "war" was far more than a brief flare-up—it was the climax of decades of social tensions, the first mass movement fueled by media, and the first articulation of human rights demands in German history.

Harvest failures, rising taxes, and the ruthless rule of feudal lords had long made life precarious for the lower classes. Enserfed peasants, in particular, suffered under a system that stripped them of rights. The emerging Reformation provided the intellectual spark for their protests, raising questions that remain relevant today: about social justice, the abolition of class and caste systems, and the universal dignity of every person. For the peasants believed freedom must apply to all—not just the nobility or clergy.

The printing press became the engine of escalation. This new technology enabled the mass dissemination of ideas for the first time. Pamphlets, especially the Twelve Articles—a sort of peasant manifesto—circulated in huge numbers, becoming the most-printed work of the early Reformation. Thus, the Peasants' War became Germany’s first media-driven historical event. Yet the revolt against the supposedly god-ordained order was brutally crushed: over 75,000 deaths and countless destroyed livelihoods marked the bloody end of the struggle for freedom. Feudal rule prevailed—better organized, militarily superior, and tactically united.

In the following centuries, the uprising was often portrayed negatively—as a cautionary tale of how dangerous and futile resistance to the established order could be. At the same time, it also served as a warning to the powerful about the consequences of exploitation. Only in the late 18th and early 19th centuries did perceptions begin to shift. The Peasants' War was reinterpreted: as an early expression of the will for freedom, a human rights movement, and an attempted revolution. Since then, the conflict has been repeatedly politicized. Ironically, both National Socialism and real-existing socialism claimed to be the fulfillment of the demands born from the Peasants' War.

Today, the sites of the uprising symbolize an early yearning for freedom—hard-fought over centuries. They stand for protest, for societal upheaval enabled by media revolution, and for a movement that has been interpreted and instrumentalized in countless ways across the ages.

About the Mühlhäuser Freiheitsleuchten

As part of the Thuringia State Exhibition “freiheyt 1525 – 500 Years of Peasants’ War,” the historic old town of Mühlhausen transforms into a luminous stage. Artists are invited to reinterpret this unique place through contemporary light art, projections, and video mapping, creating a sensorial, immersive historical experience.
The city’s walls, squares, and facades tell stories of upheaval, resistance, and profound societal change. The event’s goal is to visually capture these historical traces, reinterpret them, and translate them into a powerful artistic language. Visitors can immerse themselves in the world of the Peasants’ War in a special way—beyond traditional museum exhibits, in open spaces, in motion.

An evening stroll through Mühlhausen becomes a journey into the past: Projections bring historical figures to life, facades narrate conflict and hope, violence and vision. Yet this is not just about looking back—it’s also a dialogue with the present. What do freedom, social justice, and resistance mean today? How do the questions of 1525 echo into our time?

We seek artistic approaches that engage with these themes creatively, poetically or experimentally, opening up a new exploration of the urban space.

Application

"Freiheitsleuchten" calls on artists to illuminate and transform various sites in Mühlhausen’s historic city center with their installations.
We are seeking light-based artworks of all forms—classic large-scale projections with moving images, light sculptures, interactive pieces, purely scenographic approaches, traditional illumination art, walking acts, or sound installations. This open call is addressed to both individual artists and collectives.

For further details on timelines, locations, and other information, please refer to the Open Call.

Submisson deadline is Friday, June 30 at 11:59pm (CET)

Additional information

Additional information about the theme year "2025 - Year of Freedom" and the state exhibition "freiheyt 1525 - 500 years of Peasants' War" is available here:

https://www.bauernkrieg2025.de/de

https://www.muehlhausen.de/rathaus-erkunden/projekte-stadtverwaltung/themenjahr-2025/

Download

Open Call Download Link Deutsch

Open Call Download Link English

Click on the Animationpack to download:

Registration

Please only submit your Project via the registration formular below, Not via Email! If you have any questions or problems please contact us here:

orga@genius-loci-weimar.org

Please make sure that all mandatory fields are filled in. The URL of the video clip must be accessible to us. If the file is password-protected, please enter the password in the description. For projects without video enter 'empty' for video link. By submitting an application, the participant agrees that MXPerience gUG may store their data until the end of the event.

FAQ

Q: Can I apply with more than one project or for different locations?
A: Yes, you can apply for several locations. You can also submit more than one project, as long as they are clearly different. Each project needs a separate application.

Q: What are the differences in the application process for each location?
A: There are three main categories. One is a videomapping competition for Marienkirche with a prize of €10,000. To apply, you need to send a 30-second 4K video.

For all other categories — videomapping (open locations) and projection/installation — you only need to send a concept as a PDF. You can also add a mood or reference video if you want. In these cases, please include a budget proposal.

Q: What technical equipment is provided on site?
A: The City of Mühlhausen will provide all technical support (projectors, sound, electricity, setup, etc.). Artists only need to deliver the content and clearly describe technical needs. Installations will be handled individually.

Q: Do I need to include technical costs in my budget proposal?
A: No. We take care of all technical and production costs. Your budget should only include the artistic part.

Q: Does my work need to be made especially for the location?
A: Yes. Each work should relate to the location. Existing works can be submitted if they are adapted to the site.

Q: Are interactive installations allowed?
A: Yes, if we can technically make them happen. Please send a simulation or clear description if your project is interactive.

Q: What file formats should I send?
A: Please send a PDF with your concept, budget, images or sketches, and a portfolio (if available). For the Marienkirche competition, you also need to send a 30-second video.

Q: What is the available budget?
A: The prize for the Marienkirche competition is €10,000. For other projects, we will agree on a fee based on your concept and proposal.

Q: Who selects the projects?
A: A jury of experts in art, architecture, theatre, and culture will select the projects. There will also be a public online vote between July 7 and 25, 2025.

Q: Will travel and accommodation be covered?
A: Travel and accommodation details will be discussed individually with selected artists.

Q: What happens to my submitted material?
A: All materials stay with the organizers until the selection process is finished. We will delete your data after the project if you ask us to.

Q: Do I have to be there during installation?
A: The installation will be coordinated by our production team. We would highly appreciate you being there, but it’s not always necessary.

Q: Can I use copyrighted music?
A: If you use copyrighted music (like GEMA-licensed tracks), you must get the rights and pay the fees yourself.

Competition FAQ

Q: How do I submit my 30-second video?
A: Please register on our website and fill out all required fields. Make your video available for download online (e.g. via Vimeo, WeTransfer...). On the registration page, in the "Add Project" section, you’ll find a field where you can paste your download link. If your video is password protected, don’t forget to share the password with us!
We will upload all submitted videos to Vimeo for public presentation and the public vote. For the "Project PDF File," you can upload a short description of your project. For the "Crew PDF File," feel free to upload some info or references about yourself or your team.

Q: I don’t have a video yet.
A: Just write “empty” in the video field.

Q: Can my video be longer than 30 seconds?
A: No, please limit your competition video to exactly 30 seconds. The jury will only watch 30 seconds, so make sure you submit the correct length.

Q: What happens to my 30-second video?
A: We will upload your video online for the jury and the public vote. All videos will be shown one after the other and in random order, to keep things fair.

Q: Can I include text or explanations in the video?
A: No, please don’t include any written explanations or text in the video.

Q: Can my 30-second video include music or sound?
A: Definitely! Sound is a very important part of creating mood and tension.