Capital of Culture 2025: Steering group met

At yesterday's meeting of the steering group to manage the bid for the title of "European Capital of Culture 2025", the Capital of Culture Secretariat, headed by Ferenc Csák, presented the status of the project plan to the committee. Among other things, the fact-finding trip to Aarhus and the regional conferences in Thalheim and Mittweida were analysed.

The fact-finding trip to Aarhus took place from 17 to 19 August. The delegation included Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig, project manager Ferenc Csák, members of the steering group and city administration employees involved in the Capital of Culture application. The knowledge trip was aimed at exchanging experiences at various levels on project organisation, possible participation formats and the process flow. This included discussions with the Lord Mayor of the City of Aarhus, the Head of the Culture Department, the Head of the Citizens' Office and the City Library as well as a representative of the Capital of Culture Secretariat. At the same time, best-practice examples and visits to various projects provided an insight into the structure and strategy of a Capital of Culture application.

At the beginning of September, Head of Cultural Affairs Ferenc Csák organised two regional conferences on behalf of Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig. In Thalheim and Mittweida, moderated by Christoph Thoma, consultant to the bid, intensive meetings were held with the mayors, mayors, administrations and cultural professionals to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the bid.

The conference "Stat(d)tkultur: Chemnitz 2025 - Europäische Impulse zu kultureller Strategie und Kulturhauptstadt", which will take place in Chemnitz from 13 to 15 November, has been announced. At the conference, there will be an exchange with the other German candidate cities and other institutions and individuals involved in the process. The aim is to develop a self-image, basic principles and recommendations for cultural development. European experts from Austria, Germany, Croatia, Bulgaria and Greece will discuss the idea of the European Capital of Culture and questions of cultural strategy.

By way of explanation:

The steering group was appointed by the city council on 8 February 2017 to strategically manage the bid. It sets priorities in terms of content, defines framework conditions and prepares other necessary City Council resolutions.

The Programme Council carries out the creative work for the bid. It develops the concept for the Capital of Culture and collects ideas and proposals. It is advised by international experts on the programme work.

Following a decision by the City Council on 25 January 2017, five honorary cultural ambassadors will also be involved in the Programme Council. The cultural ambassadors are citizens of all age groups from the city of Chemnitz who have agreed to support the application process in terms of content and concept.

A Capital of Culture Secretariat was established for project management and project organisation by resolution of the City Council on 25 January 2017. During the preparation of the bid, the staff of the Capital of Culture Secretariat are responsible for administrative and controlling tasks and cultural policy work. They also develop concepts for public participation. The head of the Capital of Culture project is Ferenc Csák, Head of Cultural Operations for the City of Chemnitz.

The European Capitals of Culture help to emphasise the richness, diversity and commonalities of Europe's cultural heritage and facilitate a better understanding of Europe's citizens for one another. The title has been awarded for one year at a time since 1985.