European Makers of Democracy

A large group of people is seated and facing a stage in an industrial-style hall with high ceilings and exposed beams. The audience is diverse with many young individuals. On stage, a person is speaking in front of a screen and banners.
A large group of people is seated and facing a stage in an industrial-style hall with high ceilings and exposed beams. The audience is diverse with many young individuals. On stage, a person is speaking in front of a screen and banners.
Photo: Peter Rossner

How can cultural participation and civic involvement strengthen social cohesion? The Capital of Culture programme aims to activate people as creative and self-effective individuals who contribute their skills and knowledge to shaping their social environment. They become European makers of democracy as soon as they work with others to generate some of this potential.

Projects in the programme field

European Workshop for Culture and Democracy
[Translate to Englisch:]
Team Generation
Volunteer programme
Microprojects
Diversity & inclusion
Bright pink and yellow image of hands reaching towards a glass door covered in circular stickers. The stickers feature text and heart symbols. The background glass reflects outdoor greenery.
Democracy-Support-Point
Illustration of four people wearing aprons, collaboratively working to mold or carve a large, abstract sculpture. Each person is engaged in shaping the piece with focus and precision, using various tools.
Female Focus across Borders
A geometric pattern of interlocking, rounded white shapes fills the image. Two stylized black and white eyes are strategically placed among the shapes, giving the appearance of peering through the design.
into the dawn
An illustration of a needle with red thread piercing through a white garment pattern. Scissors and a spool of thread are included, set against a bright yellow background.
Threads of Unity
A dancer in a teal hoodie and sneakers performs a dynamic move on a wooden floor in front of an audience. The crowd, some wearing masks, watches attentively in a dimly lit room with red ceiling lights.
Room 4 Culture
A red, cartoonish creature with an exaggerated grin and big eyes reads a book. Another small creature, emerging from its shoulder, also looks at the book. The background is a pale yellow.
Leselust goes Europe
A display of colorful lace-making pillows with wooden bobbins, showcasing intricate lace designs. In the foreground, an overlay illustration of two children playfully climbing on the lace structure.
Museum to Go
A gradient green and yellow poster with the word "WOW" in bold, surrounded by musical notes. Below, "HEMNITZER KOMPONISTEN KONZERT" is written with a hashtag and treble clef symbol. A small staff with notes is at the bottom right.
Chemnitz composers in concert
Illustration of four joyful, abstract figures with smiling faces and star motifs. They pose energetically in front of a waving American flag backdrop, depicted in vibrant blue and red hues.
C the Queer
Intergenerational stories: Overcoming boundaries, shaping identities
Truth Marks
Record picnics
CD-Exchange
Singing across borders
ECoC Curling Cup 2025
Eine Gruppe von fünf Personen in traditioneller Gesellentracht steht selbstbewusst da. Sie tragen Hüte, Westen und weite Hosen. Vor ihnen liegt ein zusammengebundenes Bündel auf dem Boden. Der Hintergrund ist in schlichtem Hellbeige gehalten.
Travelling Journeymen and Women in the European Capital of Culture Region
Line art of two people eating pasta together against a vibrant gradient background. One person wears a feathered hat, and there's a cactus plant beside their plate.
Carnival of Cultures Funken + Come and eat at my table
Colourful Bricks for Accessibility
A large group of people seated indoors at an event. The room has high ceilings and a stage at the front with a speaker addressing the audience. Various banners and lights decorate the space. Attendees are facing forward, listening attentively.
Europe Week
The beautiful Susanne
The image shows an ornate, illuminated building at night. A red carpet with velvet ropes leads to the entrance, with sketched outlines of people on either side. The sky is a deep blue, enhancing the warm glow of the building’s lights.
European Cultural Award Gala
Edith Stein
All inclusive
ALFONS – Even More German
panorama radio (Edition Chemnitz)
Open process
Kamenica Musica
Towers of Europe
Blue Note International
A minimalist illustration depicts a solitary figure on a sandy beach gazing out at the ocean. The sky is filled with abstract, line-drawn clouds against a light background, creating a serene and contemplative atmosphere.
Creative Europe meets Chemnitz 2025
European Capital of Culture Marathon
Illustrated scene of a journalist in a "Press" vest conducting an interview with a woman behind a fence. Both wear masks. A tree and bushes with flowers are in the background. The image is in a monochromatic pink and yellow palette.
Europe local
Climbing over Chemnitz
A green circle with a yellow outline and a large green letter "K" inside a yellow circle. The design is on a green and purple background.
Haltestelle Kultur
Crossborder Creatives
European Young Art Link chemnitz 2025
Momo discovers C the Unseen
The Kiosk of unknowledge
MUNCH. ANGST. AND WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Hohndorf and its European roots
BDTSK8 Festival
Square stories - square visions - square design
Colourful Rooftops
Cultivating Connections
Schocken von Schocken - How not to privatise air?
Street Chess International
A monument as a social seismograph for democracy
A person runs on a white surface, casting a shadow against a backdrop of red and white buildings. The buildings have a grid-like window pattern, and the sky is a vivid red, enhancing the contrasting colors.
Raus aus Chemnitz?
Try Walking in May Shoes
ZADA Pilot Project
Interpolar Nuclei*topographing Fissures
Out of Order
COOGIE: Chemnitz – Oulu – Osijek – Guitar – International – Exchange
Chemnitz Utopia
A textured map of Romania showing major cities, rivers, and topographical features. Cities like Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Timișoara are marked. Shaded elevation changes and borders with neighboring countries are visible.
"Jews, Germans and oil are our best exports"

European Capital of Culture The Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media Free State of Saxony European Capital of Culture

This project is cofinanced by tax funds on the basis of the parliamentary budget of the state of Saxony and by federal funds from the Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media), as well as funds from the City of Chemnitz.