A look at the cities
Interview on the launch
After a total of six months, this year’s literature residency organised by the City of Chemnitz has come to an end. The writer and director Judith Kuckart and the photographer Burkhard Peter shared the time between them and are now looking back on their experience.
What exactly did each of you get up to during your three months in Chemnitz?
Judith Kuckart: I met lots of lovely people aged between 16 and 76, and, amongst other things, made contact with the Chemnitz Ballet and the local arts scene. Together, we ran a project with a class at the Agricola School. The w16 pupils were set a writing task: ‘The Disappearance of Teacher M. Walther’.
Burkhard Peter: My experience has been similar, with the school and making initial contacts within the Chemnitz arts scene. On top of that, I’ve visited many exhibitions at the Chemnitz Art Collections. I particularly enjoyed the New Objectivity exhibition at the Gunzenhauser. An event featuring live music alongside images by August Sander was absolutely lovely! The tours of the Schauspielhaus were also very impressive – partly because we were able to go inside the old Schauspielhaus. I’d find it a great shame if it really couldn’t be reopened. But the selection of art was also very good.
"Visible and non-visible"
At the launch event on 23 April 2026, Judith Kuckart and Burkhard Peter will talk about what interests them about Chemnitz.
moreJudith Kuckart and Burkhard Peter were asked to provide two photographs for this text, depicting places that reflect their time there. The photograph on the left shows Amerika near Penig, whilst the one on the right shows the theatre as seen from the park side.
Which encounter has left the strongest impression on you?
Judith Kuckart: An encounter with the artists’ collective ‘Karl liebt Käthe!’ And the head of the Penig library near Amerika.
Burkhard Peter: ‘Karl liebt Käthe’ too. And our neighbour Mrs Köhler with the circus dog!
Have you found a favourite spot in Chemnitz or the surrounding area?
Judith Kuckart: Penig near Amerika!
Burkhard Peter: The river Chemnitz, below the Kaßberg slip road, with the grey heron in it.
How did the writing workshop with the Year 8 pupils from Agricola Grammar School go?
Judith Kuckart: Oh , we had far too little time.
Burkhard Peter: Yes, it was really great and there was a lively exchange with the pupils and some fantastic results. But we could actually have spent much more time on this project.
Your closing event, which takes place on 25 September, is called ‘About Cities’. What parallels do you see between Chemnitz and other cities?
Judith Kuckart: We’ll also be talking about Wuppertal and Dortmund that evening. These are cities we both originally come from and which – sometimes more successfully, sometimes less so – have to cope with structural change in precarious times – just like Chemnitz.
Burkhard Peter: Exactly , it’s the structural change; this becomes particularly clear in the urban landscapes we’ve photographed. In the presentation, alongside the photos from Chemnitz, we’ll also be showing images from the cities mentioned.
What can guests look forward to?
Judith Kuckart: To the fact that all these stories are somehow connected – at the very least when they’re told.
Burkhard Peter: To some great improvised live music combined with literature and photography.