In spring 2023, Stephanie Brittnacher (illustrator from Chemnitz) applied to the Soft Skills Academy I with an idea for a comic about Chemnitz residents. A few months later, she traveled to Oulu in Finland with a travel grant from this program. There she visited the comic festival, met people from the cultural scene, made contacts and invited Finnish artists to Chemnitz. A series of drawings was created as a travel diary.

The Soft Skills Academy I is the capacity building and networking program for local actors within the framework of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025. Initiatives or individuals who want to implement cultural or artistic projects at the interface with civil society engagement were able to apply for the call for project ideas. As part of this call, 19 project ideas were selected for funding. These could be used for research, workshops, travel or training. The aim of the program is to enable local actors to further develop their ideas and to network regionally and internationally.

She reports on her research trip to the European Capital of Culture 2026, Oulu in Finland:

From Chemnitz to Oulu

I submitted an idea to the Chemnitz 2025 Open Calls (Soft Skill Academy I): I wanted to tell stories of people who have left Chemnitz. My art form: comics! And the special thing about Soft Skills I: it needs an international partnership.

My research led me through the bid books of other cultural capitals – and there is a Comics Center in Oulu, Finland! There’s even a comics festival there every November. So let’s go! With my sketchbook and iPad, I explored the city, met the Oulu 2026 team and other creative minds from the urban culture scene, galleries and of course: the comics scene! The encounters led to open doors – Finnish artists were so open and eager to work with me on my project. And the Comics Center is also on board!

Graphics: Stephanie Brittnacher / Instagram: @stephanie_brittnacher