Chemnitz receives coaching from international cultural experts
Invitation for media representatives on 20 April, 7.30 pm, in the "Oberdeck"
From 19 to 21 April 2017, four international experts from the fields of cultural and urban development as well as a representative of the European city network EUROCITIES will be guests in Chemnitz. The team will provide coaching for the city of Chemnitz as part of the "Culture for Cities and Regions" programme and on behalf of the European Commission.
On 20 April 2017, 7.30 pm (admission: from 7 pm), a meeting of the coaching team with cultural institutions and political representatives will take place in the "Oberdeck", Am Walkgraben 13, 09119 Chemnitz. Mayor Philipp Rochold welcomes you to the event.
Representatives of the media are also invited to attend. There will be an opportunity for discussions with the coaches (working language English) and the guests.
As part of its involvement in the EUROCITIES Cultural Forum, the city of Chemnitz has been awarded the contract for this cost-neutral coaching programme for the development of its cultural strategy by European experts following a detailed, thematic application. A total of 22 cities applied for ten coaching appointments.
During their stay, the coaching team will find out about the ongoing process for developing the 2018 - 2030 cultural strategy and projects such as the bid for the title of European Capital of Culture 2025. However, topics such as city marketing, tourism, urban development and the Morgenstadt process are also closely related to the development of a cultural strategy and will therefore play a key role.
The team will conduct interviews with cultural and political stakeholders and gain an insight into urban development in Chemnitz. An excursion to various cultural institutions and areas to be developed is also planned. Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig will receive the guests for an interview and Cultural Mayor Philipp Rochold will also welcome the coaches and hold talks.
Following the visit, the City of Chemnitz will receive a comprehensive report from the coaches with recommendations and action points for the development process of the city's cultural strategy.
The coaching team consists of:
- Val Birchall, Deputy Director of Cultural Operations for the City of Birmingham (England),
- Susanna Tommila, Director of Culture, City of Espoo (Finland),
- Péter Inkei, Director of the Budapest Observatory (Hungary),
- Nils Scheffler, expert for integrated urban development, Berlin (Germany)
The coordinator of the "Culture for Cities and Regions" project will also be taking part:
- Cécile Houpert, EUROCITIES Brussels Office (Belgium)
EUROCITIES
The City of Chemnitz has been a member of this network of major European cities for 15 years. Experts from various fields, such as business and mobility, meet in thematic forums. The City of Chemnitz has been an active member of the Cultural Forum since 2007. Chemnitz will apply to host a EUROCITIES Cultural Forum in Chemnitz in 2018 (the year of the city's anniversary). If the city of Chemnitz is awarded the contract, around 100 experts from cultural offices and cultural organisations as well as cultural politicians will come to Chemnitz to share their experiences.
The city of Birmingham is currently the chair and the city of Espoo the vice-chair of the cultural forum of the EUROCITIES city network
Cultural strategy of the city of Chemnitz
Since 2013, building on the existing cultural development plan, various working materials and policy documents for the process and reorientation of the cultural strategy have been developed together with cultural organisations, cultural advisory boards and the cultural committee. In August 2016, there was a large discussion round with cultural institutions and city councillors at the TIETZ. Coordination is currently underway in all art and cultural sectors and various thematic groups are being set up. The planned coaching by international experts is an integral part of the further work on the cultural policy strategy for the city of Chemnitz. The planned key points and guiding themes will be summarised at the end of 2017. Citizen participation is then planned. The city council can then pass a resolution on the future cultural strategy of the city of Chemnitz.