The Maker association (Maker e.V.) is a non-profit association, organising the yearly makers united festival in Chemnitz and the Maker Residence program in greater Chemnitz and Saxony. The aim is to connect and support makers and makerspaces locally and internationally and establish sustainable exchange in knowledge.
Through this initiative, Maker e.V. are offering a unique residency programme, inviting over 50 international makers to greater Chemnitz simultaneously in diverse makerspaces and come together at makers united to connect and present. Maker e.V. offers residencies of one week to one month (differs per makerspace), followed by participation in the makers united festival.
By welcoming makers into various makerspaces across Saxony, and specifically within the Chemnitz Cultural Capital of Europe 2025 region, our goal is to foster and expand our vibrant maker culture. This residency programme is an opportunity for international makers to connect with each other, local communities, share knowledge, and collaborate on creative projects that bridge cultures, disciplines, and expertise.
We invite makers from all over Europe to apply for the Maker Residence by submitting a formal application, centreed around an idea or existing open-end-project. German makers are of course very welcome to apply for participation in the makers united festival and share in the exchange and connection. The application process is simple and accessible via our online application form down below. Projects of all kinds are welcome-whether you are tackling open-end design challenges, conducting material experiments, exploring conceptual ideas, or working on something that simply needs to be made.
The Project Team is especially excited about innovative projects focused on sustainability or circular use of resources, whether they manifest through advanced technology or traditional craftsmanship. We are interested in projects that mediate STEAM related processes and provoke dialogue, and critical thinking. STEAM represents an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.
The core focus of the Maker Residence is international exchange, networking, and building sustainable relationships. You'll have the chance to collaborate, learn, teach and contribute to the international maker community and of course network and present your work and project at makers united 2025 in Chemnitz, fully facilitated within the Chemnitz Cultural Capital of Europe 2025 programme.
Application requirements:
- Applicants must reside within the European Union.
- Applicants should have reasonable English language skills.
- Applicants have a cultural awareness and openness with respect for diversity.
- You are welcome to apply for multiple residencies at different makerspaces, but you can only be selected for one residency at a single makerspace. Your choice for a specific makerspace offers no guarantee. As we are still involving makerspaces and makerhubs into the programme, you can apply for the residency without selecting a space and we will find the fitting space for you together, after being selected. Curation to match makers and spaces is an important part of the process.
- Makers are expected to be in residence at the selected makerspace: from June 11th until June 18th, 2025 (for a week-residency) or from May 21th unitil June 18th (for a monthresidency)
- On the 18th of June all Makers will travel to Chemnitz to prepare for makers united and meet all other Maker Residents during our first of three network events that week.
- From June 19th-20th, the makers united festival will open its doors to schools from 8am to 1pm. During this time, makers and their makerspaces will offer projects and facilitate participatory workshops for student groups visiting their stands. (workshops of 45 minutes for 5-10 students, aged 9-16 years)
- On June 21st and 22nd, the Makers United Festival will be open to the general public. Here, makers will present their projects in a participatory way for audiences visiting their stand. It will also be possible to sell maker-items on the weekend.
- We will set up a Letter of Agreement (LOA) as a basic contract between Maker e.V. and all selected applicants.
- Experience with workshops is an advantage, an open and sympathetic personality is a must :)
The entire Open Call is available online at makers-united.de
