What to Do With Europe’s ‘Zombie Churches’? These Artists Have Some Ideas.

September 5, 2026 · 1 min read

What to Do With Europe’s ‘Zombie Churches’? These Artists Have Some Ideas. The New York Times

Source: GN: Western Europe · Read the full story →

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Богдана Николова

In Burgas, we have several such empty churches that have been locked for years. Instead of giving them to artists for installations, better to open them for Sunday services and see if people come back. At least in our parish there is still a need for a place for prayer, not for exhibitions.

Thomas Johnson

In our part of London we’ve got a couple of old churches that only open once a month now. Turning them into art spaces feels like giving up too soon. Why not try a simple Sunday service first, like Богдана suggests for Burgas, and see if anyone still shows up?

Десислава Илиева

In Plovdiv we have also had such locked churches for years, especially in the old town. Instead of giving them to artists for installations, it is better to open them for regular services, as Bogdana says about Burgas. People are still looking for a place to light a candle and pray, not to see exhibitions.

Elena Barbu

Here in Cluj, the cathedral and the smaller churches in the center still have regular services, but I also saw some old chapels from monasteries that have been closed for years. Before giving them to artists for installations, as the article says, it would be better to open them at least once a month for a simple liturgy, as Bohdana proposes for Burgas. People keep coming to light a candle, especially the old people in the neighborhood.

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