Intercultural Weeks 2014 in Chemnitz: "Finding common ground, celebrating differences."
Call for participation in the programme from 27 September to 12 October - information and registration form online at www.chemnitz.de
Under the motto "Finding common ground, celebrating differences", the nationwide preparation team is calling on cities and districts, associations and initiatives, institutions and authorities to take part in the Intercultural Weeks 2014. People with different biographies, origins, cultural and religious backgrounds, with different ideas of a good and successful life, are to address various topics relating to migration and integration as part of the series of events and, first and foremost, necessarily come together.
Etelka Kobuß, the city's Commissioner for Foreigners: "The city of Chemnitz has been involved in organising the Intercultural Weeks every year since 1991 with a wide range of events. The basic idea behind the series of events is to showcase Chemnitz's diversity and offer a platform for intercultural exchange. We actually do this throughout the year, but on these days in September and October, and especially as part of the kick-off event, we can bring integration and the culture of recognition closer to people who would otherwise never deal with the topic of migration and integration."
Chemnitz is home to 9,582 people from other parts of the world, including 4,018 women and 5,564 men; they come from over 120 countries around the world (as at 31 December 2013). According to the Commissioner for Foreigners, tolerant and unprejudiced coexistence in everyday life is a central concern and the Intercultural Weeks series of events is an important contribution to breaking down barriers between Germans and migrants.
The highlight and kick-off of the Intercultural Weeks will once again be the ceremonial opening at Neumarkt , which every year gives Chemnitz residents the opportunity to celebrate, talk, laugh, inform themselves and learn more about each other beyond everyday encounters. Under the patronage of the Mayor of Chemnitz, Barbara Ludwig, and in cooperation with clubs, associations, authorities, initiatives and organisations, the work with, for and by migrants will be presented at Neumarkt on 27 September 2014. A varied stage programme, information on various aspects of immigration and specialities from different countries around the world will create a framework for intercultural encounters. At the end of the kick-off event, a concert will be presented together with the partner organisation Arbeiterwohlfahrt Kreisverband Chemnitz und Umgebung: As part of the "Chemnitz shows its face against the right" project - funded by the Local Action Plan for Democracy, Tolerance and a Cosmopolitan Chemnitz - music groups will perform in favour of a tolerant Chemnitz. Among others, Jennifer Rostock, Culcha Candela, Jupiter Jones, Kraftklub and Marquess have been requested.
A wide range of events on the topic of migration and integration will then be offered until 12 October in associations, religious sites and youth clubs, women's centres and neighbourhood districts, libraries, schools and public authorities and many other venues.The series of events is supported by the City of Chemnitz, the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, the utility company eins energie in sachsen GmbH & Co KG, the regional office of the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and the Turm-Brauhaus.
Call for participation in the organisation of the Intercultural Weeks 2014 in Chemnitz
All those who would like to learn more about migration and integration, about migrants, who have something to say or want to say something, who would like to do something for tolerance, cosmopolitanism and openness with their offers of various kinds are invited to participate.rtolerance, openness to the world and more understanding for one another, who want to offer space for religious dialogue and cultural exchange and who are open and unprejudiced in their encounters with people of different cultures, religions and origins. Registration forms for participation in the Intercultural Weeks 2014 in Chemnitz will be published on the Internet at www.chemnitz.de. Offers for the stage programme designed by volunteers with and without a migration background, participation in the Market of Opportunities, registration, e.g. of events, discussion rounds, information events, concerts, exhibitions, fairy tales, films, which are to be offered in the programme of the two-week series of events, as well as offers to support the implementation of the Intercultural Weeks 2014 in Chemnitz (e.g. sponsoring, setting up and running the event). Etelka Kobuß, the City of Chemnitz Commissioner for Foreigners, is now accepting applications for sponsorship, set-up and dismantling assistance for the opening, help around the stage - contact: Commissioner for Foreigners c/o City of Chemnitz, Social Welfare Office - Annaberger Straße 93, 09120 Chemnitz, phone 0371/488-5047, fax: 0371/488-5099, e-mail: auslaenderbeauftragte(at)stadt-chemnitz.de
Information online: Detailed information on the topic as well as the registration forms are published online at www.chemnitz.de here: http://www.chemnitz.de/chemnitz/de/kultur-freizeit/kulturelle-hoehepunkte/interkulturelle-wochen/index.html