Ideas for the year 2018

At yesterday's ideas workshop, Chemnitz residents were able to express their ideas for the programme for their city's 875th anniversary. Mayor Barbara Ludwig welcomed the 70 guests in the Tietz event hall: "Today we are already revealing the first ideas for 2018, which are currently being discussed and worked on in order to create even more space for further ideas from the citizens. We hope that the city's birthday will motivate many people to talk about their ideas and give new impetus to how history can be made accessible to citizens and guests alike."

With scientific support
To this end, several scientists from Chemnitz University of Technology want to accompany the 2018 event. Prof Fasbender, Vice-Rector for Teaching, Studies and Continuing Education, presented how citizens could work together with scientists on various topics such as "875 years of literature in Chemnitz" or "875 years of education in Chemnitz". Topics such as "875 years of love in Chemnitz" or "875 years of sport and exercise in Chemnitz" also offer exciting subject areas, as the presentations by Dr Gala Rebane, Junior Professor of Intercultural Competence at Chemnitz University of Technology, and Dr Meike Breuer, Junior Professor of Primary School Didactics in Sport and Physical Education, revealed.

With art and music
Ferenc Csák, Head of Cultural Operations, presented some of the cultural administration's project ideas. For example, there may be a competition for art associations and artist groups in 2018, which will focus on ten different historical figures from Chemnitz. The Neue Sächsische Galerie is planning a book art project together with the Chemnitz City Library. In addition, independent cultural organisations (associations, initiatives, artist groups, individual artists) are to be supported in their own projects focusing on the 875th anniversary of Chemnitz. Uwe Fiedler, Director of the Schloßberg Museum, spoke about planned exhibitions, colloquia and publications dedicated to the founding of the monastery and thus the city's 875-year history. Nancy Gibson, Director of the Municipal Music School, promoted a musically differentiated festive event and open-air events.

Sören Uhle, Managing Director of CWE, emphasised the importance of the city anniversary for city marketing and presented how work on the programme is continuing. Anyone wishing to contribute ideas should submit them to the CWE by 30 June 2016. Either by email to 875(at)cwe-chemnitz.de, by telephone on 0371 3660201 or at the tourist information centre. The future coordinator will be Susan Endler, Head of Tourism and Marketing.

On the city's anniversary:
In 2018, Chemnitz will celebrate the 875th anniversary of its first documentary mention. As there is no founding document in Chemnitz - as in many cities - the first documented mention of the city in 1143 is considered the starting point of the city's history. The first documented mention of Chemnitz in 1143 was the granting of the market privilege, although the first written and archaeological evidence of the settlement of the later city area exists, such as the church and the monastery on the Schloßberg. Emperor Lothar probably founded the monastery in 1136 and endowed it with land. This was the starting point for the further colonisation of the surrounding area.

Emperor Lothar's successor, King Konrad III, confirmed the foundation of the monastery in 1143, whereby the "area" of Chemnitz was first mentioned in a document. The monastery was allocated an area for economic provision and granted a market privilege by the king. This market privilege indicates the king's intention to found a town, but is not considered a founding document for the medieval town, but merely a preliminary stage.