An idea that was born last year is to become reality: Chemnitz wants to be European Capital of Culture in 2025. But before a concept can convince the jury, the people of Chemnitz themselves have to burn for this idea. So what can Chemnitz contribute to the success of the city’s application to become “European Capital of Culture 2025”?

Ferenc Csák, head of the cultural sector, answered this question at the panel discussion on 13 December as follows: “You can only become Capital of Culture if you work together. Every vote and every opinion counts on the way to application, which is why the people of Chemnitz are cordially invited to take part in the process, to express their opinion, to discuss in their networks why Chemnitz should be the European Capital of Culture in 2025”.

Now, representatives of the city’s creative cultural scene have spoken out with a clear vote: Chemnitz should win!

This is what the protagonists of the Chemnitz subculture think. That is why 54 scene initiatives as well as art and cultural associations support the city’s application for the title. Behind them are almost 1400 committed people who have been making Chemnitz an interesting, lively and exciting place for years with a lot of creativity, passion and great – often voluntary – commitment. As insiders, they know best about the cultural diversity of the city. They are all convinced: Chemnitz wants to and can win!

declaration of the free Chemnitz cultural scene and supporters

We, the undersigned from the free Chemnitz cultural scene, are pleased about the application of the city of Chemnitz for the European Capital of Culture 2025.

We look forward to exciting discussions.
We are looking forward to new action areas.
We are looking forward to courageous concepts.
We are looking forward to inspiring encounters.
We are looking forward to Europe.

short: we want to win!

aaltra | AJZ | Arthur | ASA-FF | Atomino | Band office | Beatconnect | Inspections | Benten | Birch grove | Chemnitzer Filmwerkstatt | Chemnitzer Künstlerbund | Colores | dieda Booking | Eichenspinner Verlag | Emma’s uncle | European Art Community | Fête de la musique | Filmteam Chemnitz | Fotolab | fuego a la isla Festival | Galerie Hinten | gigbus | HALternativ | Huhlern | inspire | Kaffeesatz | Off-Stage complex | Klub Solitaer | Kompott | Kosmonaut Festival | Kreatives Chemnitz | Kreativlabor | KulturTragWerk Sachsen | KulturWerkstatt | Lessing and Company | Lokomov | Ndorphin | Network for Culture and Youth Work | Nikola Tesla | Odradek | poet bewegt | pyrocatharsis | Radio T | Rebel-Art | re:marx | first-aid station | Science Slam Chemnitz | spinning | Subbotnik | Subway to Peter | dew point | world tech

The list of creative supporters ranges from A for “aaltra” to W for “Wolkenkuckucksheim”. We asked some of them what they are looking forward to in connection with their application, what inspires them and what bold concepts they hope to come up with. Thoughts, suggestions and opinions of various protagonists of the Chemnitz subculture:

Yvonne Friedrich
Yvonne FriedrichOSCAR e.V. @ Weltecho

“We are looking forward to Chemnitz finally being discovered. And properly so. With everything the city has to offer. This includes not only the big cultural addresses, but also the small, fine shops, charming galleries, cult clubs as well as interesting projects and creative initiatives. We are sure: Chemnitz can be the Capital of Culture.”

Ronny Seifert
Ronny Seifertbeatconnect
beatconnect

“Beatconnect welcomes and supports the project extraordinarily, since the application process itself opens up the opportunity for subcultural ventures, like us, to be widely perceived beyond the city limits of Chemnitz. Especially in our field of activity, alternative electronic dance music, Chemnitz has disappeared from the proverbial electro-musical “map”. A state of affairs that was completely contradictory until the year 2004. Therefore it is high time to change this!”

Jan Kummer
Jan KummerAtomino

“We finally want to be the capital city club!”

Kathi Grund
Kathi GrundGigbus Tourbusvermietung:

“Capital of Culture Chemnitz means an opportunity for us to extend the city’s strong cultural network to Europe.”

Holm Krieger
Holm KriegerArthur e.V.

“If we are going to participate, we must also want to win. That we can win is certain. If all the city’s cultural actors pull together with fire and a desire to experiment, the rest of the city society will jump on board of its own accord. Then the biggest step towards the Capital of Culture will have been taken.”

Klaus Kowalke
Klaus KowalkeLessing und Kompanie

“Chemnitz – The city of modernity. We look forward to the world as our guest in Chemnitz. Enlightenment, modernity, cosmopolitanism. Shaping the future together with our neighbours and guests.”