New Year's reception of the Lord Mayor
Sven Schulze starts the countdown to the Capital of Culture year at the New Year's reception
The Lord Mayor of Chemnitz, Sven Schulze, heralded the final 366 days until the opening of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 during his New Year's reception today.
Together with the Saxon State Minister for Culture and Tourism, Barbara Klepsch, the Managing Director of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH, Andrea Pier, the Commissioner of the Saxon State Government for the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, Sven Schulze started the event with a symbolic push of a button.State Government Commissioner for the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, Thomas Popp, as well as Kerstin Ritscher and Jan Holzapfel, volunteers in the European Capital of Culture team.
A display with a digital countdown will be installed on the façade of Chemnitz City Hall in the coming days. It will show the time remaining until the start of the European Capital of Culture 2025 year in Chemnitz. On 18 January 2025, the Capital of Culture year will be heralded in with the opening ceremony under the motto "C the Unseen".
The Deputy Mayor of Wrocław, Jakub Mazur, (Wrocław was European Capital of Culture in 2016) encouraged Chemnitz in its preparations and emphasised the great opportunities and possibilities that the title will bring Chemnitz.
"Chemnitz Thaler of Honour" awarded for the first time
At the New Year's reception, the Lord Mayor honoured six Chemnitz residents for their voluntary work in the city. Three women and three men received the "Chemnitzer Ehrentaler", which was awarded for the first time:
- Claudia Großkopp is honoured for her work, particularly in the Straßenbahnfreunde e. V. association,
- Christian Kulik received the Chemnitz Thaler of Honour for his commitment to promoting young talent in sport and for his involvement in SSV Textima Chemnitz e. V,
- Wolfgang Möbius is honoured with the Chemnitz Honorary Thaler for his work at the "Sidmund Jähn" cosmonaut centre,
- Eckart Roßberg is honoured for his work on the district council and in the Sonnenberg History Working Group,
- Christine Esche is honoured with the Chemnitz Ehrentaler for her commitment to the Kultur- und Heimatverein Wittgensdorf e. V. (Wittgensdorf Cultural and Heritage Association),
- Katrin Stephan-Kunert is honoured for her work in the Gemeinsam für Glösa e. V. association in particular.
"The Chemnitz Ehrentaler is our award for special social commitment. The honourees accept their responsibility for the people of Chemnitz and for their city. They contribute to a lively community that characterises our urban society. My sincere thanks go to them," said Sven Schulze, honouring the award winners.
