EU projects
Long-term impact of the European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) on regional development
Nine European countries have launched a joint initiative to strengthen the long-term impact of the European Capitals of Culture (ECoC) on regional development beyond the title year. The ECoC Echo project focuses on solutions that help to maintain and reinforce the momentum created during the title year, fostering growth in the cultural sector, regional development and international co-operation.
The project brings together past, present and future European Capitals of Culture. In addition to Chemnitz, these are: Leeuwarden 2018 (Netherlands), Novi Sad 2022 (Serbia), Veszprém 2023 (Hungary), Tartu 2024 (Estonia), Oulu 2026 (Finland), Liepāja 2027 (Latvia), Évora 2027 (Portugal) and Bourges 2028 (France). In addition to the ECoC cities, the project also includes partners at local and regional level who play a key role in shaping and implementing cultural policy.
The project is co-funded by the European Union's Interreg Europe programme, which supports interregional cooperation and helps authorities across Europe to develop better strategies. The total budget amounts to around 2.27 million euros, which will be shared between the nine participating countries and their twelve partner organisations. As part of the project, the cultural and urban development strategies of the participating European Capitals of Culture will be updated to ensure the implementation of the agreed long-term objectives. The final results will be presented in Bourges (France) at the end of 2028 to coincide with the opening of the next European Capital of Culture year.
European Creative Rooftop Network (ECRN)
As part of the European Creative Roof Network (ECRN), the city of Chemnitz has been working on the unused urban space, the roofs, from 2020 to 2024. As part of this, the first step, the mapping of rooftops, has taken place in Chemnitz.
Completed projects
INTERLACE aims to make cities more liveable, resilient and inclusive
INTERLACE aims to make cities more liveable, resilient and inclusive
Making cities more liveable, resilient and inclusive
INTERLACE, an EU-funded project, supports cities in the renaturalisation of urban ecosystems. This is also the origin of the name, which stands for "International Cooperation to Restore and Connect Urban Environments in Latin America and Europe". Translated into German, it means "International Cooperation to Restore and Connect Urban Ecosystems in Latin America and Europe".
The project started in September 2020 and ended in August 2024. In addition to Chemnitz, the cities of Kraków (Poland), Granollers (Spain), Envigado (Colombia) and Portoviejo (Ecuador), as well as the municipal association CBIMA (Costa Rica), took part. There are also various partners such as the Ecologic Institute Berlin and the WWF.
The central objectives in Chemnitz are the renaturalisation of fallow land and environmental education, for example to reduce heat stress in the city and at the same time (re)establish biodiversity and the connection between people and nature.