A record number of 188 project ideas were submitted for the 15th round of micro-project funding. Thanks to the additional support of Chemnitz 2025 main sponsor eins energie in sachsen, the eight-member jury was able to award funding to a total of 53 applicants.
This strong response shows how interested people in Chemnitz and the region are in actively shaping the Capital of Culture year. A total of 250 projects have already been funded since the microproject programme was launched in 2017. This low-threshold participation format supports creative projects in Chemnitz and the 38 municipalities in the Capital of Culture region that strengthen civic engagement and promote dialogue and a sense of community. Applicants receive a financial grant of up to 2,500 euros for the realisation of their ideas. A maximum of 3,000 euros can be awarded for projects with a European dimension.
Thanks to the commitment of eins as the main sponsor of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, the funding amount was increased in this micro-project round, so that a total of 100,000 euros was available for projects in Chemnitz and the Capital of Culture region and 53 applicants received micro-project funding. This is more than twice as many as in the previous funding rounds.
The following project ideas will be funded in this micro-project round:
Chemnitz Stair Run
This event is intended to appeal to amateur athletes from the centre of society and to encourage participants from Germany and abroad to exchange ideas in an iconic building in Chemnitz city centre through the common focus of "sport".
Initiator/Applicant: Florian Arndt
Inclusive fashion for all
"Inclusive Fashion for All" produces upcycled clothing with Braille embroidery to give blind people access to fashion. In Chemnitz, with its textile tradition, inclusion is promoted and awareness of accessible fashion is raised.
Initiator/Applicant: Christian Atz
C the Strength - FLINTA* empower themselves
A self-defence and empowerment workshop for FLINTA* people in Chemnitz. A day full of strength, exchange and lived solidarity to strengthen violence competence, reduce fears and promote self-determination. With panel discussion.
Initiator/Applicant: Klara Behner
Network meeting of senior citizens with senior citizens from the European twin cities
Senior citizens from the twin cities of Düsseldorf, Usti nad Labem, Lodz, Tampere, Mulhouse and Ljubijana meet for the first time to exchange experiences on the participation of the older generation in the organisation of the cities.
Initiator/Applicant: Dietmar Berger
Documentary film "Kein ruhiges Hinterland"
The documentary shows democracy work in Saxony: Fatima runs a cultural centre in Chemnitz, Ahmed networks rural resistance against the right, and the "Dorf der Jugend" in Grimma offers an anti-racist space for young people despite hostility.
Initiator/Applicant: Anastasia Blinzov
Photo Orienteering Tour "Find_The_Unseen"
A map with photos shows 25 "unseen" places in the city, which are to be found during this run. The appropriate detailed photo can then be assigned to the respective location from the photo overview.
Initiator/Applicant: Gerd Böhme
Exhibition and guided tour in the Hilbersdorf apple park
The Hilbersdorf Apple Park displays more than 1500 apple trees with over 400 apple varieties. Guided tours and exhibitions bring the European cultural heritage of apple diversity to life and communicate the value of apple conservation.
Initiator:in/Applicant:in: Heidi Enderlein
Dancing connects, dancing inspires
In this project, the initiative "MIT HERZ GEGEN KREBS" organises one or two dance events for people with a cancer diagnosis or other health restrictions as well as for all interested parties.
Initiator/Applicant: Petra Boughanmi
Silent City Partitour
"Inclusive, diverse, magical" is the theme of the individual, artistic city tour for two people each. Participants can expect joint challenges. They will experience the urban space in an unusual new way.
Initiator/Applicant: Barbara Einwag
K-Rising: New chances are waiting
K-Rising is a K-Pop dance competition and aims to provide a stage for up-and-coming and new talents - so-called "rising stars". The event also aims to promote cultural exchange and dance culture in Chemnitz.
Initiator/Applicant: Alexandra Engert
Fire brigade connects people and overcomes borders
The 160th anniversary of the Lößnitz volunteer fire brigade brings together the local fire brigades, the twin towns of Rotava and Burgholzhausen and the youth fire brigade. All citizens are also invited to the "Open Day" and gain an insight into the work of the fire brigade.
Initiator/Applicant: Tony Ficker
35 years in the mirror of the region - unity through young eyes and old stories
The participatory project invites schoolchildren and Zschopau residents to capture old buildings and forgotten places in Zschopau in photographs. Their pictures will be filled with stories from the town's population in an interactive exhibition.
Initiator/Applicant: Hanne Franken
European ski jumping competition as part of the 35th evening ski jumping competition at Gußgrund in Grüna
On 27 September 2025, the 35th evening ski jumping competition will take place on the Gußgrundschanze in Grüna. Young ski jumpers from the neighbouring countries Poland, Czech Republic and Austria are invited to prove their skills.
Initiator/Applicant: Jens Frischmann
HEIMArT - Youth park for ART diversity Burgstädt (working title)
Young people from Burgstädt grammar school are redesigning a green space into an attractive park with a high degree of biodiversity, incorporating their own ideas in the process.
Initiator/Applicant: Falk Geißler
German-Czech Storytelling Day
The German-Czech language event offers all age groups the opportunity to immerse themselves in the language and culture of the Czech Republic. Stories are read aloud and told.
Initiator/Applicant: Regina Gellerich
Critical Introduction Days (KRETA) Chemnitz
An initiative consisting of around nine people organises various events to introduce people who are new to Chemnitz as well as locals to the city. The focus here is on queer-feminist, intersectional and anti-racist topics. The aim is to encourage people to get involved in initiatives and promote a non-discriminatory society.
Initiator/Applicant: Hannah Görler
Chemnitz scenes - literary-pictorial vernissage at the 1st CAV e.V.
Sigrid Klemm, member of the association, presents her pictures of Chemnitz city views. Thematic texts by members of the 1st CAV e.V. will be recited.
Initiator/Applicant: Thomas Grieser
Culture at the table - Intercultural dinner in L.O.
Love (and friendship) goes through the stomach. An intercultural dinner in Limbach-Oberfrohna, a town with many different nationalities, is to be organised as part of a project to promote exchange and mutual understanding.
Initiator/Applicant: Katja Hasler
Home in colours: a participatory work of art
What do people associate with the term "home"? Children and adults paint their symbolic home on a square of fabric. All the pictures are sewn together to create the colourful artwork "Home in Colours", which is presented in a central location.
Initiator/Applicant: Cornelia Hilsberg
KinderMusikFestival
The Förderverein für den musischen Kindergarten Chemnitz e.V., the Kiga and KiFaZ team and the MENSCHemnitz gGmbH team support children and young people in organising a music festival.
Initiator/Applicant: Manja Hofmann
Eid as a public family festival
On 5 April 2020, Muslim communities in Chemnitz will celebrate Eid together as a public family festival for Muslims and non-Muslims. It will provide an insight into Islamic culture and invite people to an intercultural (culinary) exchange.
Initiator/Applicant: Adib Jaafari
"All Female Dance Event" (working title)
An all-styles dance event organised by women for women is to take place for the first time in November. It promotes dialogue between female artists, strengthens the female dance scene in the region and increases its visibility.
Initiator/Applicant: Paula Jörk
Konk's Krown 3X3
Living diversity, playing basketball - this is the basic idea behind the cooperation project of the Chemnitz City Sports Association and its partners. The Chemnitz and international basketball scene presents itself on the new court in the heart of the city.
Initiator/Applicant: Jenny Julian
Youth and archery - living German-Czech community in Annaberg/B.
On 5 May 2025, the community in Annaberg-Buchholz should become tangible. Young people from the Annaberg area and the Czech twin town of Chomutov will come together to practise archery and learn new skills.
Initiator/Applicant: Ronny Kienert
Against forgetting: "I want to live" In memory of the honorary citizen of our town Justin Sonder
A concert on 28.9.25 17:00 in the municipal music school will commemorate the honorary citizen of the city, Justin Sonder. In addition to his favourite compositions, there will be readings from publications about his life.
Initiator/Applicant: Evelyn Kluge
One year, 38 places - cultural talk series: "And what do we get out of it?"
Chemnitz is Capital of Culture - and what do we get out of it? Stefan Tschök, author and supporter of the bid, asks. Over the course of a year, he will visit all 38 locations in the Capital of Culture region and bring cultural professionals and citizens into dialogue in unusual places.
Initiator/Applicant: Jens Korch
4. Music Neinerlaa with Silent Disco & Inclusion Stage and Music Meets Art
One of the 9 stages becomes a "Silent Disco" area. People are given headphones and can choose between several music channels. At the same time, there will be performances with sign language poetry or accessible music formats on this stage.
Initiator/Applicant: Carmen Krüger
Discover the undiscovered - art in public spaces in Hainichen
Art in public spaces is few and far between in Hainichen. Thanks to Chemnitz 2025 and the Purple Path, something has changed: there really is art to discover again. But you have to know where. This project aims to provide a signpost.
Initiator/Applicant: Thomas Kühn
Trial Park in Konkordiapark
Trials Forge e.V. is building a sustainable trial park in Konkordiapark. As a creative place, it combines sport, culture and community. With workshops, events and artistically designed obstacles, it will become a meeting place for everyone.
Initiator/Applicant: Robin Lehnert
IMAGINE! 2. International Festival for Narrative Art | Chemnitz "IN TOUCH - IN CONNECTION"
Storytelling, the audience-oriented genre of performing arts, is to be introduced at the 2nd Saxony-wide international storytelling festival IMAGINE with greats from the European scene. Bilingual performances will be staged across generations and cultures.
Initiator/Applicant: Veit Magdon
Chemnitz_Untold
Chemnitz_Untold is a book project that was created in 2022. The life stories of international Chemnitz residents are told in two books. Now both books are going on a reading tour in 7 retirement homes and nursing homes.
Initiator/Applicant: Fatima Magded
Cycle The Unseen
"Cycle The Unseen" aims to make the unseen and unrecognised history of the Capital of Culture region visible. In the form of a brevet, the participants cycle a predetermined route along the points of the PURPLE PATH.
Initiator/Applicant: Justine Markstein
BUNTE SEITEN
BUNTE SEITEN is RABBAZ's fourth print magazine. Filled with prose, essays, field reports, photographs and more, it highlights unseen facets of Chemnitz in a kaleidoscopic way, thematically based on the seven colours of the Lulatsch.
Initiator/Applicant: Markus Mayer
Absaufen! / Drowning! A micro ark for Chemnitz
The sea level is rising and everyone will drown. The solution lies in the problem: modelled on the rich island of Dogen City, the prototype of a micro-arch is being built from rubbish. Everyone can join in and participate in life after the sinking.
Initiator/Applicant: Julia Michel
The Olymp WG
The association Offenes Theaterlabor e.V. would like to develop an off-theatre play "Die Olymp WG" in 2025. The rehearsals and plays will be performed in Chemnitz in the Off Bühne Komplex, as well as at festivals in Europe, e.g. Abtenau/Austria or Trunov/Czech Republic.
Initiator/Applicant: Isabel Ogonowski-Spehr
Kukaye Moto Kids Festival
On 28 June 2025, the Kukaye Moto Culture Center association wants to celebrate an intercultural kids' festival on the grounds of the YMCA Computer Club. A large garden offers space for a bouncy castle, drumming and capoeira workshop, football tournament and more.
Initiator/Applicant: Christian Palm
Tshemodan - A Jewish klezmer circus
In the show "Tshemodan", the ensemble Tsirk Dobranotch combines traditional Eastern European Jewish music with contemporary circus. The show deals with the themes of migration, exile and Jewish history and will be performed at the Fritz Theatre in June.
Initiator/Applicant: Eliana Pliskin Jacobs
Inside & Outside Images: Photography Contest about Feel-good places in Chemnitz (Photo contest about feel-good places in Chemnitz)
The project aims to raise awareness of feel-good places and undiscovered places. Children photograph special places in Chemnitz for them. The best photos will be honoured with a "moving exhibition" and/or a children's travel guide.
Initiator/Applicant: Katrin Pügner
"Moving city - dance parcours for everyone"
An interactive dance and movement trail invites you to flow creatively through the city. A map leads participants on a journey of discovery in which urban space is used as an inspiring place for movement and encounters.
Initiator/Applicant: Christina Raab
UNFUC
UNFUC is a punk cultural project. In the middle of the European Capital of Culture, a place of post-irony is created for a moment: a benevolent "Really now?", an opposition, a criticism with a wink. Punk meets art meets commitment.
Initiator/Applicant: Gabi Reinhardt
A school with diversity
With games, music, dance, food, drinks and art activities from at least 13 nations, democratic participation and educational processes in the preparation and realisation, support from the neighbourhoods, sustainability, an impetus is given to a positive school climate.
Initiator/Applicant Ines Richter
Senior Citizens' Film Club-DOKU
The senior citizens' film club DOKU shows Chemnitz from a side that is not so well known to many. The films provide insights into the unknown, discovering the overlooked and the hidden.
Initiator:in/Applicant:in: Hella Richter
André Street Advent Calendar
An Advent calendar in a shop window on the street shows a lovingly and artistically designed window every day. The small works of art are created by various families from the neighbourhood and celebrated on Fridays with music and mulled wine.
Initiator/Applicant: Johannes Rödel
The railway station in Aue is alive
Aue railway station is not inviting and nobody recognises its secrets and its once vibrant history. In September it is to come to life. With music, a picture show and a historic steam train.
Initiator/Applicant: Lydia Schlösinger
Art walk with audio description through the Park of the Victims of Fascism in Chemnitz
The project creates an inclusive and accessible walk that is audio-described, digitised and analogous to the tour developed by wheelchair users using a self-developed app. It will also be accessible for blind people and a brochure will be written in simple language.
Initiator/Applicant: Martina Schneider
Collective Visions of the Unseen
The urban community is invited to create a digital work of art using mobile devices. Collaborative art "to go" - the aim is to make community creatively visible.
Initiator:in/Applicant:in: Nicole Schubert
Augustusburg nature market - the taste of a cultural region
The nature market is intended to bring together and present producers of regional products from the (Capital of Culture) region, supplemented by hands-on offers, art and culture, in close cooperation with the neighbouring Makerhub Lehngericht and the local associations.
Initiator:in/Applicant:in: Tourist information centre of the town of Augustusburg
Holidays of lights, light and wonder.
Today, Chemnitz is a multicultural city. The project unites people of different nationalities. International dialogue is a guarantee for friendship between different peoples.
Initiator/Applicant: Larysa Starobynska
KlangBrücken - Musical bridges to the future - flowing sounds inspired from all over the world
Innovative, international fusions of different artistic genres are developed and presented according to the motto: City by the river = Culture by the river = Flowing sounds = Flowing movements. At the same time, the strengthening of civil society is to be ensured through a shared cultural experience at a newly created location.
Initiator/Applicant: Mathis Stendike
GartenKULTUR 2025 (working title)
Several high-profile events are planned, to which all visitors from near and far are very welcome.
Initiator/Applicant: Heiko Thurau
Kiss Chemnitz!
Kiss the StreetArt spots in Chemnitz and the surrounding area! Visitors find the pictures, take a photo of themselves with the picture and use a QR code to find out what is worth telling, architecture, stories about or interesting facts about this place.
Initiator/Applicant: Thomas Uhlig
"Between heritage and change: artistic research in the St. Georgen silver smelting works"
The project will transform the Neustädtel silver smelter into a creative laboratory for art, research and exchange in summer 2025. Artists and the local community will develop an experimental publication to be published in October.
Initiator/Applicant: Bianka Voigt
Screen prints on Chemnitz & the region
Students of the HGB Leipzig get inspired in Chemnitz & Region, travel on to Glauchau with a mobile screen printing press to print on site and exhibit the resulting works at the Kunstverein.
Initiator/Applicant: Katarzyna Zierold
