Under the motto “Queering the BUGA 23”, we, as a queer community, also have a place at a Federal Garden Show for the first time with the Rainbow Hub. 

That's why we consider it particularly important that we as a community are represented at the BUGA Rainbow Hub. And who better to do that than ourselves? 

We want to be visible because we are part of society and would like to use this opportunity to highlight queer diversity with a wide variety of programs. Queer people - across the queer alphabet - are not a marginalized group in society, we are here, in the middle of it and want to create connections. Your contributions can be very different. 

With a diverse program, we want to show how diverse people, love, identities and environmental approaches can be.

There will also be a program by Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens, who will demonstrate ways to enter into a loving relationship with the earth with their “The Earth as Lover” performance.

Your support is also needed.

We are happy to welcome queer groups, organizations and associations who would like to offer a programme at the Queer Hub at the Federal Horticultural Show 2023. Whether lecture, dance, performance, music, workshop, exhibition or other - we look forward to your contributions!

Please contact us with your event ideas or questions by e-mail at buga@qzm-rn.de.

The Federal Horticultural Show is a project for urban society - with exhibition contributions, a program of events and flower shows, it also aims to support urban and regional development in the long term. During the planning process for the two exhibition sites - in Luisenpark and on the Spinelli site - the focus will be on sustainability and environmental protection. The 17 global sustainability goals are the guiding principles of the Federal Horticultural Show.

You can find all Rainbow Hub events here.

More information about the BUGA can be found on the official website: https://www.buga23.de

Annie Sprinkle & Beth Stephens in Mannheim!
„The Earth as Lover“​ in the QZM, at the BUGA 23 and in the Kunsthalle

Enter into a loving relationship with the earth? How this works Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens in their performance “The Earth as Lover”. The performance is a further development of the basic ideas of the two US-American artists, together with queer artists from Mannheim. The walks are being developed especially for the BUGA. The artists' work is intended to “awaken in others the desire to love, appreciate and honor the earth as if it were their beloved instead of expecting the earth to care for them like a mother”. The frequently invoked “Mother Earth” here becomes the “Beloved Earth” - who deserves love and protection. “The Earth as Lover” poses central questions about the position of the individual in the world: how do I stand in the world? How do I relate to my environment? How does the world affect me? 

For BUGA 23, special walks across the BUGA 23 site will be developed and carried out under the artistic direction of Annie Sprinkle, Beth Stephens and with the participation of regional artists. In addition, another performance and film evening will take place on a stage in the BUGA grounds. The walks and the film evening are included in the BUGA admission fee. However, as participation in the walks is limited, there will be a booking system via the BUGA 23 website.

The walks take place on the following dates and start and end at the Rainbow Hub. For more details and information on registration, simply click on the links for the respective dates.

18.08.2023 – 19:00 Uhr

Mithu Sanyal, Annie Sprinkle & Beth Stephens in QZM

Annie Sprinkle, Beth Stephens, Joy Brooke Fairfield and Mithu M. Sanyal talk about The Earth as Lover and let us participate. The conversation will be held in English. The event will be streamed online. Here is the dial-in data.

The two artists and founders of the Ecosex Movement said yes to Planet Earth a few years ago and have been leading an artistic love affair with nature ever since - queer-feminist, post-humanist, ecological, playful and full of humor. Especially for the Federal Garden Show (BUGA), they have just added another chapter to their Ecosexual Walks under the motto The Earth as Lover. In the talk, the duo, together with their director Joy Brooke Fairfield, will meet their long-time friend and sister in thought, the cultural scientist, journalist and author Mithu M. Sanyal, who hit the heart of the times with her first novel “Identitti”, a furious ride through European identity politics. They all change and expand our relationship to the earth with their detabooed view and language.

It would be easier and less fraught with reservations to have a conversation about war and violence. We want to talk openly and without taboos about love, connection, lust and sexuality. We want to develop the connecting power, the protective energy of partnership for our planet and our relationship with it. How does it feel to be married to the earth? Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens know.  

20.08.2023 – 19:30 Uhr

„Water makes us wet“ & Performance

At 20.08. um 19:30 Uhr the film “Water makes us wet” will be shown in the Baumhainhalle in Luisenpark.
There will also be a performance by Annie Sprinkle and Beth Stephens. 

23.08.2023 – 20:00 Uhr
Registration required:
Click here to register on the Kunsthalle website