At today’s press conference, Ferenc Csák, head of the application for the title of European Capital of Culture 2025, presented the ten-member team that will present our application to the jury in Berlin on 10 December.

For several weeks now the question has been on the agenda: With which team can we map the many facets of the city and at the same time bring extensive expert knowledge to the podium? But now the decision has been made – and after the first meeting of the team it is already clear: it was the right decision, because “the team” is almost sworn in. Together with the two dramaturges Kathrin Brune and René Schmidt, she is currently working on the presentation – a hard piece of work, but one that is visibly enjoyable for everyone, because each individual reveals a big heart for Chemnitz.

For Chemnitz 2025 will present:

Mayor Barbara Ludwig and project manager Ferenc Csák, who of course know the application inside out, all the actors, the urban characteristics, the programmatic framework.

Bernd Birkigt, the mayor of Oelsnitz/Erzg. will be there on behalf of the cultural region, which will jointly develop a model for the stimulating interaction between city and country in the coming years.

The managing director of Staffbase GmbH Dr. Martin Böhringer stands with his start-up not only for the business location but also for the cultural and creative economy in the region.

The ballet director Sabrina Sadowska works with her international company not only in the field of urban high culture but also creates with the festival “Dance | Modern | Dance” an exciting exchange between the dance cultures in Europe and the whole world.

The former theatre director Hartwig Albiro, as a contemporary witness, brings all his personal experiences of the upheavals and upheavals after the Second World War and during the years of transition.

With Niners captain Malte Ziegenhagen the broad concept of culture comes into play, team spirit, fair play, fan culture, internationality…

Modern mobility and civic involvement are the playing fields of Maria Kreußlein, who works as a research assistant at the TU and, with the micro-project “Bicycle Cinema”, is representative of all those who want to get involved in the cultural life of the city with their small projects.

One person who supported the Capital of Culture Office as a student and was in contact with many micro-project makers is Julia Palarz. She is also part of the team, as she is currently in charge of a young democracy project in the Network for Culture and Youth Work, especially as she is very familiar with Europe.

And finally, Zeran Osman, a student of intercultural communication, is also travelling to Berlin. Her dedication to cooperation in Chemnitz and the exchange of cultures brought her to the coffee table with Frank-Walter Steinmeier a year ago and now to the team.

The jury presentation in Berlin will again take place in alphabetical order, so that Chemnitz will be the first of all the German candidate cities to be presented: on 10 December, 9 a.m. at the Representation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg to the Federal Government.

 

(Sample photo: Ernesto Uhlmann)