Funding programme "EUJA! Initiative projects for the Capital of Culture year" programme

The city of Chemnitz provided 180,000 euros for the special fund "Places of Awakening". A total of 34 project applications were submitted. After consultation in the Cultural Advisory Board and a decision in the Cultural Committee, 18 projects were selected for realisation in the intervention areas of the Garage Campus, Stadtwirtschaft, Karl-Schmidt-Rottluff-Ensemble and "Stadt am Fluss".

The aim was to make these new urban spaces an active experience. The aspect of sustainability also played a role in the selection of the projects. As places of urban development, the Stadtwirtschaft and Garagencampus in particular should offer long-term space for creative uses and encounters in a local and European context. The spectrum of funded projects ranges from the joint design of a tram by children and young people to an international music festival and artist co-operations in a European context on the garage campus.

The sponsored projects:

• Arbeitsgemeinschaft "Straßenbahnfreunde Chemnitz" e. V. / "Kunst BAHN und Begegnung" project - Garage Campus
  Exhibition project lasting several months with artists on the subject of industrial culture, lost places, garage yards /January - October
• Urania - Stadtwirtschaft
  Project "We make theatre! - Learning in the Stadtwirtschaft", 10 performances for daycare centre and primary school children in the Stadtwirtschaft
• Martina Morasso - Stadtwirtschaft
  "GATES. DOORS. Exit from social dissatisfaction", 6 movement workshops with amateurs and professionals aged 16 - 80+ on social issues; development of theatre scenes and performance in the Stadtwirtschaft event courtyard
• Uwe Rottluff - Garage Campus
  Music project wellenvorm, "Floating Monument" project, concert event with sound, light and dance
• KulturKollektiv Reset e. V.
  Festival "Setlist: DIY Soundscape", platform for performances by local, national and international bands
• Ballroom Culture gUG - Stadtwirtschaft
  "KONSUMGUT[OST] Festivaltour", platform for pop culture, collaboration with the Czech Republic - Nerudny Fest
• Prof. Dr Christian von Borczyskowski - Garage Campus
  Art project "Stadt am Fluss - Stadt im Fluss", exchange and exhibition programme with Düsseldorf artists, accompanying events in the Tankstelle project space
• Irini Mavromatidou - Karl Schmidt-Rottluff Ensemble
  "Karl Schmidt-Rottluff in detail", drawing courses
• Förderverein Karl Schmidt-Rottluff Chemnitz e. V. - Karl Schmidt-Rottluff-Ensemble
  "Karl-Schmidt-Rottluff-Tour": Erection of seven information steles with pictorial motifs at places where Karl Schmidt-Rottluff worked
• Anatoli Budjko, DRUCKSTOCK - Karl Schmidt-Rottluff Ensemble
  "Open Workshop Woodcut -Schmidt-Rottluff (AT)", six artists in residence
• Mica Kempe - City by the river
  "Project formation FLUSS & UFER: Anatoli Budjko, Irini Mavromatidou, Katharina Bloch, Kathi Halama, Mica Kempe", workshops with citizen participation
• Westsächsische Gesellschaft für Stadterneuerung mbH/ Team Stadtwirtschaft - City economy
  "Of screws and threads"
• Taupunkt e. V.
  IMAGINE! Maps of the (In)visible - Lost in Translation, 2nd International Festival for Narrative Art in Chemnitz, Dresden and Leipzig
• Radio T e. V. - City economy
  "Zukunftswerkstatt Community Media 2025", congress of the Federal Association of Independent Radios with internal workshops, but also public workshops and events
• Stadtfabrikanten e. V. - Stadtwirtschaft
  "Official reopening of the FabLab Chemnitz in the Stadtwirtschaft
• Private individual - Stadtwirtschaft
  "DIY workshop transforming bicycle scrap into Christmas decorations", two-day workshop
• Saxony Children's Association - Garage Campus
  "Child Rights - Escape - Tram", multi-day art workshop with children to design a tram or a bus, thematic focus on children's rights
• Garage Campus V. i. G. - Garage Campus
  "Garagen-Campus öffne dich!", annual programme with six coordinated projects, designed by associations and initiatives
  

In the funding pillar "Microprojects Intervention Areas - Public Spaces", funded by the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 gGmbH with up to 50,000 euros, 21 of 33 submitted projects were supported.

Funding was provided for smaller, creative projects that contribute to the cultural revitalisation of intervention spaces using simple means. The "Malathon" in Küchwald, for example, invites people to become artistically active on 42 trees. "Soundwalking the Culture Trail Höhenweg 2025" opens up the Höhenweg intervention area through guided sound walks. With the "Big Jump Chemnitz 2025", the city is taking part in the Europe-wide River Bathing Day for the first time - a symbolic start for the use of the newly created riverbank areas of the "City by the River" intervention areas. Dance culture is also represented: An open salsa initiative provides uncomplicated dancing opportunities in the fresh air.

Andrea Pier, Commercial Director of Chemnitz 2025 gGmbh, says: "It's simply impressive how many different projects are being realised and how many people are behind them. It's particularly nice that the intervention areas are being filled with life: After all, it is part of the Capital of Culture legacy to continue using them as places of creativity and togetherness beyond 2025."

The funded projects:

1st round

• Deep Listening Day - Vettersstraße
  A day dedicated to listening to quieter, subtler, overheard sounds, complemented by a social meeting space. A practical workshop for deep listening and a concert with music that draws attention to the sounds of everyday life.
• Institute for Invisibility (IFU) Kollektiv Kubik - Lessingplatz
  In the "Institute for Invisibility" performance, the collective asks passers-by in public space "What is invisible, but you wish people could see it?" and develops strategies with them to make the needs visible.
  strategies to make the needs visible.
• Posthuman - Radiant Futures - Vettersstraße
  In a cooperation between the video art network Videocity and the socio-cultural centre Subbotnik, an international video programme on the topic of posthuman is to be curated. In summer
  2025, the short film reel will be shown as an open-air cinema evening on the Vettersstraße open space in Chemnitz and rounded off with a cyborg concert by Bertolt Meyer.
• Sportgemeinschaft Kleinolbersdorf-Altenhain e.V. and Bürgerverein Kleinolbersdorf-Altenhain e.V. - Lohse-Uhlig-Steig
  The SG Kleinolbersdorf-Altenhain (SGA) and the c Lohse-Uhlig-Steig (LUS) working group are planning a joint celebration on 24/05/25 to mark the Lohse-Uhlig-Steig intervention area at the landscaped site
  leisure area consisting of a sports field and a hiker's hut. We are also planning a play mobile, goal wall shooting, carpet curling, a choir of possums and a disco.
• Wall of Femme Urban Art Academy, Arthur e.V. - Park Morgenleite
  The Wall of Femme Urban Art Academy is an innovative, intergenerational, inclusive and international street art model project that is being implemented in various regions. A workshop is to take place in Park Morgenleite.
• Bench sculpture - a seat individually designed by citizens - Klaffenbach Wasserschloß
  The project aims to develop and produce a bench sculpture with citizens of the Klaffenbach neighbourhood - intended as a multi-generational project.
• Light line K13 - A meridian becomes visible Mercatorverein e.V. - Lohse-Uhlig-Steig
  As part of the Capital of Culture year 2025, the "Lichtlinie K13" event at the historic site of the meridian column in Chemnitz will celebrate the importance of the Central European degree measurement as the first
  European engineering project and demonstrate how essential geographical coordinates are for our globally networked world. By means of a widely visible single beam from the meridian column towards the south along the 13th longitude ö. L., a spectacular laser show and an accompanying exhibition, visitors are invited to experience the invisible lines that structure our world in a visual and informative way.
• Dance into May, community centre (Neue Arbeit Chemnitz e.V.) - Küchwald
  The event "The Küchwald dances!" aims to bring dancing in Chemnitz out of the enclosed space and into the open air. All dance enthusiasts are invited to take part in a free
  dance programme at the Küchwaldpark intervention area.
• Lively neighbourhood: MitSingen ZusammenWachsen, initiative group "SingenVerbindet" - Frei-Otto-Park
  A 3 to 4-hour neighbourly meeting format with an exchange of ideas, singing together and practical information is to be offered in two publicly accessible squares within walking distance.

2nd round

• 35 years of AGIUA - celebrating diversity and shaping it together, AGIUA e.V. Migration social and youth work - Schillerplatz
  To mark the 35th anniversary of AGIUA e.V. in Chemnitz, we are organising an event on Schillerplatz in late summer 2025. The focus will be on cultural diversity, integration and intercultural dialogue through various offers and creative activities.
• Sonnenberg Community Festival, Paper Lantern Collective - Lessingplatz
  The Sonnenberg Community Festival transforms Lessingplatz for a day and invites everyone to get in touch with each other, make music together and celebrate the diversity of the neighbourhood on 16.8.25 as part of the Hang zur Kultur festival.
• Music meets Master Builders, Bürgerverein Kleinolbersdorf-Altenhain e.V. - Lohse-Uhlig-Steig
  A hike along the Lohse-Uhlig-Steig, LUS for short, takes us to the stations completed this year. Along the way, we meet musicians who invite us to listen and linger in a variety of ways in the middle of nature.
• SOUNDWALKING THE CULTURE TRAIL HÖHENWEG 2025, Acoustic Heritage Collective Culture Trail - Höhenweg 2025
  As part of Chemnitz Capital of Culture 2025, "Soundwalking the Culture Trail Höhenweg 2025" invites you to take free sound walks. This initiative brings participants closer to the acoustic and cultural identity of this urban space.
• Bailamos! Salsa Festival Chemnitz 2025, Dance Community Chemnitz e.V. - Vettersstraße
  Organisation of a dance workshop weekend for salsa, bachata and other dances. Dance workshops during the day, dance party in the evening.
• Tufspil Marimuck - Market fountain "Manifold"
  Tufspil is a game stuck to the floor with tape that invites you to enjoy discovering your surroundings, the geology of Chemnitz under your own feet and your personal body awareness.
• Malathon. 42 trees at the reception pavilion in the Küchwald area Chemnitz Mitte-West - Küchwald
  The Malathon is modelled on the marathon and has 42 painting stations on trees instead of 42 km like the marathon.
• Small but nice! - A little theatre wreath - "Manifold" market fountain
  First, the artist Teresa Stelzer builds her own LambeLambe theatre within Chemnitz structures. She then invites other LambeLambe players from the south of France and Leipzig to exchange ideas and perform together for an audience.
• Reforestation of failed industry, Simon SKalar - samozaposleni v kulturi - Chemnitz Valley cycle path rest area
  Sound, image and space are combined in a contemplative installation. An out-of-tune piano stands in an abandoned industrial area, surrounded by linocuts on silk that symbolise nature. Art and environmental awareness encourage reflection.
• Tap water stories from Chemnitz and Europe, a tip: tap e.V. - market fountain "Manifold"
  The project shows the value of drinking water in European languages, invites everyone to share their personal tap water story and lets you take a taste journey through Europe using ingredients for flavoured water.
• BigJump Chemnitz 2025, F.-E.-Bilz-Gesellschaft e.V. - (1) former Altchemnitz river baths, (2) Pleissenbach green corridor, (3) Helgoland and (4) Nordpark.
  Big Jump has been the European Riverswimming Day = Europe-wide river swimming day organised by the European Rivers Network ERN.org since 2005. Under the motto "For living rivers" = "Dans l'eau - pour l'eau", Big Jump has brought around 200,000 participants in 34 countries into contact with their rivers on the 2nd Sunday in July for 20 years - for the benefit of both sides. Following the completion of the "City on the River" intervention areas designed by the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, our campaign will put four of them "into operation": "Anbaden! BigJump Chemnitz 2025" celebrates the locations of "Stadt am Fluss". As European Capital of Culture 2025, Chemnitz is taking part in the Europe-wide River Bathing Day for the first time.
• Salsa dancing in the fresh air in the Capital of Culture - location to be announced
  Chemnitz has a large community of dancers, especially those who dance salsa, salsa rueda and bachata. There are also many indoor dance events, but what is missing are uncomplicated
  dance opportunities

A large proportion of the EUJA applications were submitted as part of Sparkasse Chemnitz's special "Civic Engagement" programme. "We are overwhelmed by the demand and the diversity. That is why we have increased our initially planned funding budget from 200,000 euros to 275,000 euros. We are also supporting projects via our Capital of Culture donation pot on our crowdfunding platform 99Funken," says Dr Michael Kreuzkamp, Chairman of the Board of Sparkasse Chemnitz.

Sparkasse Chemnitz is a partner of over 100 Capital of Culture projects. A total of 80 of these are supported via the special "Civic Engagement" programme. These include the open-air exhibition on the Chemnitz Mikveh, the "Chemnitz Moves" exhibition at the main railway station, the Brickfilm Festival, the Street Floorball Tour in Chemnitz, the Röhrsdorf Culture Week and the World Cup cycling tournament.

The sponsored projects:

• Chemnitzer Gewölbekeller e. V.
• Caritasverband für Chemnitz und Umgebung e. V.
  Green Oasis Sonnenberg - competition to beautify the neighbourhood
• Floor Fighters Chemnitz e. V.
  Two-day streetfloorball event with participants from Europe
• Orchidee" dance club
• Intercultural Garden e. V.
  Intercultural garden festival on the Kaßberg 2025
• Chemnitz Wind Orchestra e. V.
• Triathlon Chemnitz e. V.
  Chemnitz New Year's Eve Run 2025 - The sporting finale to the Capital of Culture year
• Chemnitz Dance Ensemble e. V.
  Production of folklore costumes
• Chemnitz Association for Aviation e. V.
• Chemnitz City Fire Brigade Association e. V.
  Eubi-Cup European Edition
• Free German Authors' Association
  Literary city tour
• Local history association Röhrsdorf e. V.
  Röhrsdorf Culture Week
• AG Roter Turm e. V.
• Private initiative
  Sounds of the Orient - music, history and culture of the Suryoye (Syrians)
• Freundeskreis Akkordeon Harmonists e. V.
  Shaping art and culture together - inclusion and participation for all
• Chemnitz Park Railway gGmbH
  200 years of railways in Europe
• CLUB KRONE e. V.
  Music & Talk
• ASA FF e. V.
  Antonplatz goes digital
• Walden e. V. Chemnitz
  Project is part of the KOSMOS programme
• Community centre City e. V.
  Water lily pond Rosenhof Chemnitz
• Citizens' association FUER CHEMNITZ e. V.
  AG MIKWE
• Citizens' association FUER CHEMNITZ e. V. for AG Chemnitz Peace Day
  Choir concert as part of the Chemnitz Peace Day in the Capital of Culture Year 2025 to mark the 80th anniversary of the city's destruction
• Institute for Saxon History Dresden
  Garages tell stories
• Citizens' and cultural association Chemnitz Südost e. V.
  Höhenweg 2025 cultural trail
• Learning and Memorial Centre Kaßberg Prison e. V.
  Jews, Germans and oil are our best export goods - The free purchase of Romanian Germans 1968 - 1989
• Heimatverein Euba e. V.
  Pop up Camp River Dam Euba
• Chemnitzer Ballspiel-Club e. V.
  Diversity of sport - ball sports for people with visual impairments
• ASB Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund - Ortsverband Chemnitz und Umgebung e. V.
  C the unseen - Creating a brochure for people with limited mobility in the Capital of Culture year 2025
• Evangelical Lutheran Petri Castle Church Parish
  Kronstadt Mass - performance with a German-Romanian choir
• AWO Kreisverband Chemnitz und Umgebung e. V.
  Annenplatz festival - City centre district management
• Citizens' association - Wir im Wehrdigt e. V.
  Garage and backyard flea market and Fetè de la musique in the Wehrdigt district of Glauchau
• Chemnitz Music Society
  Concert "Musical luminosity from Chemnitz and the surrounding area after 1945"
• Indoor cycling club Chemnitz e. V.
  UCI World Cup tournament in cycle ball on 11 October 2025
• CANTICO choir - SUPPORTER: Salute e. V. Chemnitz - Institute for social, cultural and health life
  Beethoven's sounds - Europe's culture - Chemnitz 2025 - a creative triad
• Friends of Klaffenbach Primary School
  Bench sculpture a seat individually designed by citizens
• City Association of the Deaf Chemnitz e. V.
  Language culture 2025
• Saxon Gymnastics Association LEIPZIG!
  Gymnastics in all its diversity #BeActive
• erlebnis geburt e. V. - chemnitz birth centre
  Intangible World Cultural Heritage Midwifery - Midwifery and Family Festival
• MENSCHemnitz non-profit organisation Chemnitz
  Children's festival "I kiss your heart" Part II
• Revitalisation of cultural wasteland e. V.
  DRUCKSTOCK - Gallery workshop
• KulTOURwerk Chemnitz
  LiteraTOUR routes
• Central European Maths Olympics
• 1st Chemnitz Ju-Jutsu Club e. V.
  German School Championships in JuJutsu
• Fajn e. V. Chemnitz
  Czech concert series
• Riding and driving club Röhrsdorf e. V.
  Town twinning tournament
• Mama Ljuba Events
  Mama Ljuba event series - concert of Eastern European cultures
• Küchwaldbühne e. V. Chemnitz
  Production "Under the Milk Forest"
• Free Institute for Education e. V. Chemnitz
  Future workshop (democracy workshops in open space)
• Filmverband Sachsen e. V. DRESDEN!
  100 years of Chemnitz and the Ore Mountains
• Kontrast 70 Chemnitz photo club
  Chemnitz on the move
• Building Culture for Chemnitz e. V.
  Light our Vision
• Saxon Brass Music Association e. V. Frankenberg
  Children's and junior orchestra meeting
• BSC Rapid Chemnitz e. V.
  Federal Association of German Powerlifters e. V., Gold Package
• Citizens' association FUER CHEMNITZ e. V.
  Participation of Israeli wheelchair users in the planned dream concert
• Metropol cinema
  Lego/brickfilm festival
• Connecting Blind e. V.
  C the Unseen - blind people as guests in Chemnitz
• Kukaye Moto Culture e. V.
  Opening KHS
• Förderverein Flemming-Grundschule e. V.
  Circus project
• Montessori children's centre - Verein Zukunft Kinder e. V.
  We are real artists!
• AWO Social Services Chemnitz and Surroundings gGmbH
  Ikarus Festival
• Saxony Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired - Chemnitz/Stollberg district organisation
  C the Unseen - European circle dances for blind and sighted people
• Zwickau Art and Culture Association
  25 Places of interest in Zwickau
• Private person
  Photo exhibition BESTANDTEIL
• Private person
  Chemnitz worlds of sound - the rediscovery of the concertina
• Culture and Art Association "beseder" e. V. Chemnitz
  Six pearls of the Chemnitz crown
• ASB Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund - Ortsverband Chemnitz und Umgebung e. V.
  Wheelchair tour
• Saxon State Centre for Neighbouring Language Education
  German-Czech story day
• Ensemble Musica Chemnitz e. V.
  StadtKlangErlebnis - with a musical city tour
• Buntmacher*innen e.V.
  Good news with the pen
• Limbach-Oberfrohna park pub
  Wine stall magic