The prelude to the Living Room Tour took place on Saturday, 10 June, as part of the family festival “Family Tietz invites you” on the forecourt of the TIETZ cultural department store. Citizens were invited to talk to Stefan Tschök, cultural ambassador and press spokesman of the CVAG, about the idea of applying for Chemnitz as European Capital of Culture 2025.

“Chemnitz 2025 – does that mean anything? What is this all about?” wondered a citizen when she read the chalk-written text and curiously took a seat in the living room. In a cosy atmosphere, cultural ambassador Stefan Tschök explained the background and Chemnitz citizens had the opportunity to express their wishes, suggestions and opinions.

“Chemnitz has changed completely in the last ten years, I find that very refreshing. Through the youth a new culture has emerged, which brings more cosiness. The fact that people come together on the meadow at the Schlosteich or Küchwald is a very nice development, I think. I would like to see even more happening on the streets of Chemnitz, so I think it’s a good idea”, another citizen explained her perception. “It is important that Chemnitz is looked upon positively from the outside and that the students in the city become more visible” said an interested citizen. “In addition, it would be nice if the public places were used more for culture and if, for example, there was dancing together on the theatre square” was an idea that came up during the discussions.

In addition to the numerous conversations on the sofa provided by the Chemnitz Theatre for the Living Room Tour, people had the opportunity to write down their personal understanding of the subject areas “Europe – Culture – City” and to make it visible in the “window of thoughts” – a clothesline attached to the living room. The individual meanings are collected and prepared for further living room appointments.

Citizen participation is an important element in the application for the Capital of Culture. “We want to continue our talks with the people of Chemnitz, because their ideas and wishes are important impulses on the way to the Capital of Culture,” says Ferenc Csák, head of the city’s cultural operations and the application process, explaining the idea of the Living Room Tour.