The Hybrid European Democracy Festival is part of the official event programme for the European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024. Chemnitz participated in the Hybrid European Democracy Festival as part of the European Workshop for Culture and Democracy and the capacity building programme Soft Skills Academy of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH.
The Hybrid European Democracy Festival is a discussion festival that brings together people who share a common interest in the future of society. At more than 15 different locations across Europe, people came together for hyperlocal discussions. To take part in the festival, participants met physically but exchanged digitally with people in other countries who were also physically attending the festival.
On 18 May 2024, two of the two discussions with Chemnitz participation took place in the university library of Chemnitz University of Technology.
The first discussion between Tartu and Chemnitz was entitled "Fostering Lifelong Learners: Reimagining Schools' Responsibilities in a Changing World" and centred on the challenges of everyday school life in the 21st century. It quickly became clear that the challenges are similar in both cities and countries.
The panellists were:
- Kristina Kallas, Minister of Education Estonia
- Andreas Gläser, Headmaster of Agricola-Gymnasium Chemnitz
- Liis-Marii Roosnupp, teacher at Forseliuse School Tartu
- Jan Belan, Chemnitz City Pupils' Council
- Moderator and host Tartu: Angela Ader, European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024
- Host Chemnitz: Julia Palarz, European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025
The subsequent second discussion centred on the question"What makes a good student city?". Challenges in both cities were mapped in an entertaining way. The audience was able to vote throughout the discussion and important topics quickly crystallised at the end. The integration of international students into the urban society achieved the highest level of approval in Chemnitz. Other topics included support for student organisations, mental health and good public spaces.
The panellists were:
- Andreas Bischof, Junior Professor of Sociology, TU Chemnitz
- Elo Kiivet, Tartu City Council
- Doris Poolamets, Estonian Medical Students' Association
- Natalie Bleyl, photographer & social media manager, Chemnitz
- Moderator and host Tartu: Arnold Rein, European Capital of Culture Tartu 2024
- Host Chemnitz: Pascal Anselmi, European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025
The European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 GmbH implements the programme of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025. The discussion series "What can the European Capital of Culture do?" is part of the Soft Skills Academy, a project as part of the European Workshop for Culture and Democracy programme of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 GmbH.
