European Capital of Culture 2025: Chemnitz is on the shortlist!
Statement by Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig
The decision has been made: Chemnitz has made it onto the shortlist in the race for the title of "European Capital of Culture 2025".
Lord Mayor Barbara Ludwig: "Dear Chemnitz residents,
This is a huge opportunity for our city: we can become the European Capital of Culture in 2025. As of today, we are a big step closer to this goal.
The European jury has recognised the potential of our city and wants to see more of us. It has asked us to submit a second detailed application book by June 2020: with concretely elaborated projects, a detailed programme for 2025, an invitation to Europe that is so convincing that it cannot be refused.
So let's turn the joy of the first jury decision into energy and take the next steps with vigour. Because becoming European Capital of Culture 2025 would mean making Chemnitz internationally recognised as a modern city with a great industrial heritage, open spaces for creative people, design opportunities for future generations, ideas for the coexistence of a diverse urban society and an exciting cultural region. This would also mean switching on the turbo for urban development that benefits everyone.
I would therefore like to encourage you to get involved and participate. It is not the comparison with larger cities in Saxony that will get us ahead. We are now looking towards Marseille, Plovdiv, Pilsen, Galway, Aarhus, Liverpool, Linz, Wroclaw... Because Chemnitz has what it takes to be a European city. And we will continue to work hard to achieve this.
After successfully overcoming this first hurdle, I would like to say thank you! Thank you to all the masterminds, the movers and shakers, the campaigners and fellow campaigners, to all the people who have brought this bid to life with boundless commitment, passion and an unshakeable belief that Chemnitz can be European Capital of Culture 2025.
If we join forces to think big and tackle the seemingly impossible, Chemnitz has the chance to become a winner in many respects."