Back
Editor:
Presscouncil City of Chemnitz
Pressrelease: 758

"Cosmos Chemnitz - Capital of Culture 2025: Anything is possible?"

Panel discussion at Stadtbad Chemnitz - guests from Pilsen, Capital of Culture 2015, and Timisoara, Capital of Culture 2021, provide first-hand reports

Guest speakers Jiří Suchánek from Pilsen, Czech Republic, and Dr Simona Neumann from Timisoara, Romania, gave their views at today's panel discussion on the potential of the Capital of Culture bid, to which the municipal theatres and the Kulturbetrieb had invited the people of Chemnitz to the Stadtbad.

Jiří Suchánek, General Director of the Pilsen 2015 Association:
"The title of European Capital of Culture is a huge opportunity to boost the development of medium-sized cities, such as Pilsen or Chemnitz. The story of Pilsen 2015 was based on the motto "From Totality to Creativity". Pilsen has changed a lot, recently becoming a better, more self-confident and open European city. The industrial tradition of the city of Chemnitz combined with its creativity harbours immense potential for a new story of a successful European Capital of Culture. The journey is long and sometimes painful - but it will definitely pay off."

Dr Simona Neumann, Director General of the company Timisoara 2021 European Capital of Culture:
"The European Capital of Culture is not a beauty contest in which the most beautiful or most cultural city is chosen. Rather, it is a unique opportunity to rethink long-term developments and to prioritise cultural and civic engagement. The application process itself is an asset, as it obliges the city to scrutinise its resources and most pressing needs and to find solutions or at least improvements through culture.

Another wonderful aspect of the European Capital of Culture is the opportunity to think about the same European project in different cities and contexts. I come from Timisoara - a city where Central and South-Eastern Europe meet. For me, Chemnitz is a bridge between Slavic and German culture. Like Timisoara, Chemnitz lies on a border and is searching for identity after the fall of the Iron Curtain.

In view of this, this bid is the perfect opportunity to think about what Chemnitz wants to be in twenty years' time and what significance and influence the city can have in Europe. This requires vision, strong commitment and courage from everyone involved."

Short biographies

Jiří Suchánek

  • born 1982
  • Manager of international marketing, culture and tourism projects
  • He was General Director of the largest cultural project in Czech history: "Pilsen 2015 - European Capital of Culture".
  • He is currently responsible for the project "Creative Zone DEPO2015 Pilsen", the organisation of the light festival "BLIK BLIK" and for a Czech-Bavarian cooperation - all heirs of the Capital of Culture.
  • Between 2011 and 2013, he was Director of the OKD Foundation, the second largest Czech corporate foundation. The foundation is dedicated to the development of former mining and coal sites.
  • From 2008 to 2010, he was head of the Czech pavilion at the EXPO in Shanghai 2010.
  • As a founder, he has also initiated various sports, cultural and crafts festivals.
  • Jiří Suchánek is a passionate tennis player, loves culinary delights and cooking, is a music fan and a happy father of two children.

Dr Simona Neumann

  • Dr Simona Neumann has been the General Director of Timisoara 2021 European Capital of Culture since 2013.
  • She coordinated the Romanian city's bid strategy for the 2021 title and has 19 years of professional experience in the management of large-scale projects in the fields of culture, education, diplomacy and social development.
  • She started her career at the Intercultural Institute of Timisoara, established by the Council of Europe.
  • She then moved to the International Relations Department of the West University of Timisoara, where she made a significant contribution to internationalisation.
  • This was followed by positions in Florence (Italy) at the "Veb Academia Europaea", a consulting organisation for EU projects, at the Institute of International Education in Washington DC (USA), at the United Nations Development Programme in Bucharest (Romania) and at the European Commission in Brussels (Belgium).
  • She returned to Timisoara in 2013.
  • Her experiences abroad showed her how crucial it was for Timisoara to open up to the world, to network, to be self-critical and to tackle these challenges with a Capital of Culture bid.
  • Dr Simona Neumann completed her studies in European Relations at the West University of Timisoara in 2000 with a Master's degree.
  • In 2011, she completed her PhD in Diplomacy at the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj and specialised in the strategic management of non-profit organisations at the Harvard Kennedy School.
  • She is an alumni fellow of the Aspen Leadership Programme.
  • She received various awards for her excellence from Timiş County in Romania and the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as for her civic engagement from the West University of Timisoara.
  • Following Timisoara's nomination as European Capital of Culture 2021, she will be made an honorary citizen of the city.

(We will be happy to provide you with photos of the guest speakers on request)