With the Strasbourg director and set designer Philippe Arlaud and the Viennese theatre and performance artist Stephan Rabl, two international cultural makers have been in the city over the past two days. In talks and walks, the two experts, together with Chemnitz protagonists – including members of the steering group and the programme council – analysed topics and ideas that could be relevant to Chemnitz’ application to become European Capital of Culture 2025.

Ferenc Csák, the project manager of the Capital of Culture application, explains: “In the process, it is important to establish a European network in order to get an outside view of our city. Of course, the local protagonists play a decisive role in the application process. The international experience of one Philippe Arlaud and one Stephan Rabl is a great advantage here, especially since both have already realised projects in other Capitals of Culture. The ideas they both have can certainly be applied in the further process – especially with regard to the European dimension of the application”.

Stephan Rabl was surprised by Chemnitz, which he visited for the first time: “I am thrilled by the potential and power that is possible here in the city. From the outside, you don’t recognize it immediately and then you are all the more enthusiastic about it”. For Philippe Arlaud, the history of Chemnitz is a reflection of European history: “Over the past 70 years, Chemnitz has experienced an incredible metarmorphosis, for example the two different city names, combined with the associated political systems, as well as a changed architecture that has always shaped the cityscape.