An oasis in the centre of the city

Timo Stocker, Thomas Rebsch and Frank Schönfeld

It is easy to imagine that in the past, large machines hummed and many people worked in Altchemnitzer Straße when you see the imposing spinning machine building. Large window fronts and the straight-lined building over several floors bear witness to the pride, bustle and enormous labour force of the past. You can only get a hint that this is where people party and relax today by looking behind the façade: only after passing the entrance, several car parks and outbuildings does the spinning mill site reveal itself behind a massive wooden gate: sand, a pool, bars, huts. Timo Stocker, Thomas Rebsch and Frank Schönfeld and countless helpers have created their own paradise here. This year, the area will also be the venue for the Begehungen art festival.

The Begehungen art festival discovers the Spinnerei. Do you, as Spinnerei e. V., get involved in the tours yourselves? Do you open the doors or what is planned?
Frank Schönfeld: The walk-throughs take place right on our doorstep. We as Spinnerei e. V. once organised an art festival ourselves, the Into Openair. There was the MS Beat, which was very similar in nature to ours. We all know each other and have decided to join forces under the theme of Cloud Cuckoo Land. So this will be a big joint project between Begehungen e. V., Huhlern e. V., Lokomov and Spinnerei e. V. Begehungen will be responsible for the art section. The musical part will take place here on the Spinnerei site.

Why do you work well together?
Frank Schönfeld: We here at the Spinnerei are delighted about the festival, which presents alternative art and subculture. It's something special, away from the everyday event business. As a musician and creative mind, I've been organising a floor at MS Beat for Spinnerei e. V. for three years. You just know each other in Chemnitz and quickly find the people you want to do something with. Our aim is to offer alternatives to the mainstream and the expected.

Are there already plans for further joint projects?
Frank Schönfeld: From the outside, we are actually all competitors. But that's what's unique about this year, that many people who always do their own thing are joining forces. Let's see how this is received in Chemnitz. The other projects will also depend on this.

Together with Thomas Rebsch, Frank Schönfeld has launched the techno party Treibsand, where you can also party on Sunday afternoons at various locations in the city. As Felde, Frank is often at the turntables and is involved in the Spinnerei e. V. association. The Spinnerei itself is run by Thomas Rebsch and Timo Stocker as Rebsch & Stocker GbR. The three colleagues, who are also three friends, sit relaxed in front of their bar, which is open on Thursdays and Fridays from 5 pm and at weekends from 4 pm.

How did you come across this spot?
Timo Stocker: I was actually looking for a private place - for barbecues, private parties and to relax. So I rented the site here. My club medical centre was already next door anyway.

What did the site look like back then?
Timo Stocker: Littered and overgrown. It was actually a real birch forest, plus scrap metal.
Thomas Rebsch: When we were here for the first time, there was only the small bar, no stage, no stairs. Everything that is sand here now used to be forest.
Frank Schönfeld: In the meantime, we've used the scrap and the birch trees. Timo planned a festival here four years ago, Spinback. Thomas and I wanted to do something here with quicksand. We thought the site was perfect and wanted to set up the infrastructure together. One weekend for Spinback and the other weekend for Treibsand. We then spread a lot of sand in Timo's garden. Both events were successful and we gradually expanded the area, more sand, more bars. We have created our own space here.

What is special about the Spinnerei?
Frank Schönfeld: When you walk through the gate from the street, you assume it's an industrial wasteland and don't expect it. It's a little oasis in the centre of the city. We're always keen to develop it further here. We never run out of ideas. And there's a lot of love in the details. All the people who come here are enthusiastic. We can do our thing here in the art and culture sector.
Thomas Rebsch: It's like a holiday for us here. It's a really special place to work.
Timo Stocker: It's also this seclusion. You can hear the birds here, no cars. In the middle of the industrial estate, we are in a total natural oasis.
Frank Schönfeld: It's also great that many people who come here want to work here. And there are also opportunities here to be creative and lend a hand.

In addition to the public bar, there are open-air parties, especially at the weekends. "Of course, it's mainly young people who come to us," says Frank. But parents, grandma and grandad have also come along. And you can also hire the Spinnerei for private events. The beach idyll is also a popular venue for events such as the fashion bazaar, charity concerts and open-air cinema.

Does everyone find you?
Frank Schönfeld : Getting here is tricky, but it's part of the concept. Most people have no idea what's on offer here. The surprise effect is nice.

Could you have found a natural oasis like this in other industrial areas? Why did you realise this in Chemnitz in particular?
Timo Stocker: We all live in Chemnitz, although we originally come from somewhere else, but are active here in Chemnitz. We just did it here. We were looking for a location for our event.
Frank Schönfeld: There was no master plan, it just grew from there. And the process is still open.
Thomas Rebsch: We are also currently expanding again. We always have a building site going on here. I can't remember a time when we didn't build for a longer period of time.

Is there also a demand for places like this in Chemnitz?
Frank Schönfeld: For this year, we can say that we have arrived in the city. Well received. In previous years, we were still considered an insider tip.
Thomas Rebsch: This year it's really often the case that it works and we're sold out more often. The demand is definitely there. But of course we are also very dependent on the weather.

Thomas Rebsch comes from near Stuttgart. Timo Stocker is originally from Augsburg. Nevertheless, the two of them quickly took Chemnitz to their hearts. In just a few years, the Spinnerei has become one of the hottest party locations. The two managing directors are well aware of this. "The area here has a bit of a big city feel. A lot of people come here and think: Wow, something's happening in Chemnitz," says Timo. He would also like people to engage even more with Chemnitz and go where something is on offer. "People need to appreciate more what the city has to offer. Many people go away to experience something," says Thomas.

Where do you think Chemnitz still has potential?
Thomas Rebsch: The cultural nightlife in the city could definitely be improved.
Timo Stocker: We also need people who want to go out and experience something. That's the only way to create diversity. The people of Chemnitz complain a lot. But then they're not prepared to consume and tolerate it.
Frank Schönfeld: But a lot also comes from Chemnitz. And a lot happens here. I've often heard that Chemnitz is becoming the new thing in Saxony. After the hype surrounding Leipzig, many people are discovering the advantages of our city. Regardless of the location, the three of us have our projects in the city, we play gigs and invite people to events. We are already radiating into the city and the surrounding area.

Do you have to encourage the people of Chemnitz?
Thomas Rebsch: In some people's minds, the image of Chemnitz is still very poor. If you tell yourself that a thousand times, it's true. When Timo and I receive visits from our friends and relatives, they are very enthusiastic about Chemnitz.
Timo Stocker: People should really be more proud of this city. Chemnitz is really beautiful. I don't know why people are always complaining about it. I personally feel very much at home in Chemnitz. For me, the Spinnerei is an absolute stroke of luck and exactly what I wanted to do.
Thomas Rebsch: If you want to do something in Chemnitz, you have so many options. The rents are so favourable. You can make crazy deals with property managers. For all the projects and visions you have, you rarely have such a good basis as in Chemnitz.
Frank Schönfeld: Not everything is ready here. If we were to take our plans to Leipzig or Berlin, we would first have to establish the standing we have achieved here. We have a really good standard here with Treibsand. We simply have the space here to do something, and all the measures and campaigns that have been developed on the Sonnenberg with the Lokomov or the Brühl, for example, will bear fruit. There are no such opportunities in other cities. So much potential. The Spinnerei, as it is and as it has grown, only exists in Chemnitz. And it simply wouldn't have been as successful in other major cities.