Chemnitz concludes cooperation agreement with Ljubljana
The twin cities of Chemnitz and Ljubljana are bidding to become European Capital of Culture 2025 and have now signed a ten-year cooperation agreement
Chemnitz and Ljubljana have concluded a cooperation agreement in the field of culture. The aim is to further expand the close and friendly exchange between the twin cities - and thus create new impetus for the cultural development of both cities.
The idea for this agreement came from the two bid teams Ljubljana 2025 and Chemnitz2025. By signing the agreement, both cities are pledging their commitment to the development of joint international cultural projects and to supporting each other in their bid for the title of European Capital of Culture 2025.
Specifically, the following priorities have been defined:
- Exchange of knowledge and experience in the development of cultural strategies and their implementation
- Supporting local players and their initiatives to apply for joint European funding
- Development of joint cultural projects for the application for the title of "European Capital of Culture 2025" with the aim of implementing these independently of winning the title
- Exchange of artists and artist groups as part of residency programmes
In addition, topics were identified on which the cooperation will focus. These include, among others
- culture-based sustainable urban development
- Active citizenship through participation in cultural life
- Digital transformation in culture
- Culture and art in the neighbourhoods
- Paradigm shift in the area of mobility through culture
- Culture as a means of raising awareness of environmental and climate issues
The cooperation agreement was signed by Zoran Janković, Lord Mayor of the City of Ljubljana, and Barbara Ludwig, Lord Mayor of the City of Chemnitz. The signing by Mayor Ludwig took place on 8 November 2019 in Chemnitz. Zoran Janković signed the document on 11 November 2019 in Ljubljana during a visit by a Chemnitz delegation led by Mayor Ralph Burghart.
The visit also served as an opportunity for further networking between the Ljubljana 2025 and Chemnitz2025 bid offices. Ralph Burghart and project manager Ferenc Csák met with the Ljubljana 2025 team and the head of the cultural office, Mateja Demšič. They also visited the renowned cultural institution "Kino Šiška Centre for Urban Culture" and
Švicarija, a guest house for artists in residence at the Ljubljana Centre for Graphic Arts.
As part of the cooperation agreement, a team from Begehungen e. V. will be staying at Švicarija from 18 to 23 November and a representative of the Bandbüro, Haus Arthur and Off-Bühne Komplex will be staying there from 25 to 30 November at the invitation of the City of Ljubljana. The aim of the visit is to network with cultural players and organisations in Ljubljana.
Ljubljana has been a twin city of Chemnitz since 1966.