Conference of Mayors of the European Capital of Culture Region Chemnitz 2025

The 7th Conference of Mayors of the European Capital of Culture Region Chemnitz 2025 took place today in Hainichen. This time, the main topics of the regular exchange were marketing, communication, planned programmes in the region and the long-term impact, the so-called "legacy" of the title.

Questions relating to the visual identity of the Capital of Culture region, tourism marketing and inter-communal cooperation were discussed. New developments were presented to the mayors on the Purple Path and Makers, Business & Arts flagship projects.

State Secretary Prof Thomas Popp, Commissioner of the Saxon State Government for the European Capital of Culture: "C - the Unseen: The motto of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 applies to the city of Chemnitz and an entire region. I am delighted that 38 municipalities in the Ore Mountains, Central Saxony and the Zwickau region as well as the city of Chemnitz have developed a level of cooperation that has never existed before. The most visible part of this is the Purple Path cultural trail. The state government is supporting the project with an additional 400,000 euros. I am convinced that by working together under joint responsibility, the Capital of Culture region will develop a radiance throughout the Free State of Saxony and beyond."

Dagmar Ruscheinsky, Mayor of Culture of the City of Chemnitz: "The idea of applying for the title of European Capital of Culture also marked the beginning of a completely new type of cooperation with the cities and municipalities in the region. Today's mayors' conference is a living example of this, as is the regional convention between the Lord Mayor and the district councillors. Today, 38 municipalities are part of the Capital of Culture Region, with which we are sharing more and more formats, for example the Chemnitz Museum Night has had 'outposts' in the region for several years. I look forward to many, many more opportunities this year and especially next year, when we will celebrate the European Capital of Culture together in Chemnitz and the entire region with thousands of guests."

Andrea Pier, Managing Director of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH: "The Purple Path art and sculpture trail and the Makerhubs are among the major Chemnitz 2025 projects for the Capital of Culture region. We will install up to 20 sculptures this year and support the operators of the eight maker hubs in realising their concepts for the creative locations. These projects will create new tourist destinations as part of the Capital of Culture programme, enhancing the attractiveness of the region with its World Heritage sites, mining history and traditional arts and crafts. With these regular working meetings between the mayors, we are now laying the foundations for new networks and structures that are a prerequisite for a successful Capital of Culture programme. Intensive cooperation between the municipalities will make it possible to create long-term momentum for the region."

Silke Franzl, Mayor of Ehrenfriedersdorf and representative of the region on the Supervisory Board of the gGmbH: "The idea of Chemnitz as European Capital of Culture 2025 is a win-win situation - for Chemnitz and the municipalities in the Capital of Culture region. The intensive cooperation that we now enjoy is extremely beneficial for all partners. I am convinced that the Purple Path, with its more than 30 stations, has all the prerequisites to become a tourist highlight for art and culture enthusiasts far beyond the actual title year 2025. The task now is to continue to develop the Purple Path together and prepare it well for 2025."

Albrecht Spindler, Mayor of Jahnsdorf: "For our municipality, the fact that we are part of Chemnitz 2025 is an opportunity to engage with art and culture in a way that we have never done before. For example, the 'Jahnsdorf trifft sich' (Jahnsdorf meets) association, which was formed in the course of discussing ideas and proposals, firstly for the Capital of Culture application and then for the concrete preparations for it. Together with the Jahnsdorf municipal administration, the association is also coordinating activities for the European Capital of Culture with a completely new intensity. In concrete terms, this is the case today, when we will be discussing the artist Jeppe Hein, whose sculpture 'Modified Social Bench for Jahnsdorf' will be part of the Purple Path in our municipality from June, for the first time with the citizens at the 'Lost Place Convention' in the Alte Kreißigfabrik."

Further information:
www.chemnitz2025.de
www.chemnitz.de