The Bar Camp was able to obtain an informative exchange from the makers of KRACH, a new support programme for the creative area of Chemnitz. The core of this Bar Camp was to present the programme to the participants and at the same time to get information on how the cultural and creative industries work in other cities in Germany and Europe. KRACH cooperates with the city as well as with various owners and institutions to give young, even inexperienced cultural producers space to develop their ideas. This way, innovations are to find a place in Chemnitz and thus increase the quality of life and work in the districts, explained Grit Stillger from the Chemnitz City Planning Office as well as Frank Müller, Robert Verch and Frank Schönfeld. In general, it can be said that the city is on the ravages of time with such a support programme. However, it is not a “panacea” for urban and cultural development, as was interjected by a representative from Vienna/Carinthia.

Experience from Croatia also showed that a separation of cultural and creative industries does not work. These sub-sectors must be very strong in themselves before they can be considered individually – a valuable contribution for the future work of KRACH. Also the advertising strategy of KRACH, the daily cooperation with the city offices and the reciprocal services on the part of Chemnitz were discussed.

Other problems and starting points addressed included issues such as gentrification/displacement or the lack of academic output in the cultural sector, which could sometimes be compensated for by a design course.