BERLIN.- Christoph Schlingensief worked on the idea for the Operndorf Afrika (Opera Village Africa) from 2008 onwards. He conceived it as a place for intercultural encounters and experiments, as well as an artistic reservoir for the future. The foundation stone was laid in spring 2010, and recently the elementary school in the opera village near Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou was opened. In 2012, further construction is to be realised as part of this project, financed largely through private donations and sponsorship monies. An art auction at the Nationalgalerie at Hamburger Bahnhof – Museum für Gegenwart in Berlin will now help the Operndorf Afrika to grow. On 8 March 2012, AUKTION 3000 will take place at Hamburger Bahnhof Berlin, with