In a joint council meeting on 14 November 2018 at the Chemnitz Exhibition Centre, 24 cities and municipalities along the Chemnitz model unanimously sealed their support for Chemnitz’ application to become the European Capital of Culture 2025.

Amtsberg, Annaberg-Buchholz, Aue, Augustusburg, Burgstädt, Burkhardtsdorf, Flöha, Frankenberg/Saxony, Hainichen, Jahnsdorf/Erzgebirge, Lichtenau, Limbach-Oberfrohna, Lößnitz, Mittweida, Neukirchen/Erzgebirge, Niederdorf, Niederwiesa, Niederwürschnitz, Oelsnitz, Olbernhau, Pockau-Lengefeld, Stollberg/Erzgebirge, Thalheim/Erzgebirge and Zwönitz have agreed to redefine the cultural region that has evolved. The application process, the preparatory years as well as the event year 2025 are intended to further expand the cooperation and strengthen it beyond the year 2025.

Nico Dittmann, Mayor of Thalheim /Erzgebirge: “The idea of a joint application inspired me from the very beginning. Of course there are things that separate us. I’m thinking of football, for example. But we also have a lot in common and I hope we will use this opportunity to shape the future together. Incidentally, Thalheim will celebrate exactly 100 years of municipal law in 2025. I think there’s no better way to celebrate it.”

Ralf Schreiber, Lord Mayor of Mittweida: “I am very much looking forward to this ambitious project and think it is important that we now combine our strengths to submit a powerful application. They say that a vision becomes reality when I have the courage to overcome boundaries. Let us cross those borders and be open to Europe.

Gunnar Bertram, President of the Regional Assembly IHK Chemnitz: “Culture needs the economy as patron, as sponsor. But rather the economy needs culture, and for three reasons. Culture is a location factor. Corporate culture is a guarantee for entrepreneurial success. And culture gets us out of the bell and helps to overcome prejudices.”

With around half a million inhabitants, the Chemnitz region is a densely populated conurbation in Europe with enormous cultural potential. For this reason, on the way to becoming the Capital of Culture, various projects and event formats are being designed which, regardless of winning the title, are intended to change the region positively: both in the perception of the local people and in the supra-regional, even European perception.

Mayor Barbara Ludwig: “There are many points of contact for the cultural region, because we have not only experienced a common history, we can also tell it together – a deeply European history.