Cultural Region

Some routes are already finished, others are in the planning stage: the Chemnitz Model will connect the region in the next few years – from Olbernhau to Hainichen and from Annaberg-Buchholz to Mittweida. And when the region can soon be experienced comfortably by public transport, we will also be able to experience it together! The Capital of Culture application is exactly the right occasion for this project – it has so far brought together all the mayors and mayoresses of the associated municipalities and initiated thinking about a common cultural region. Because together the cities and municipalities have a lot to offer, also for the inhabitants who can enjoy urban life but do not have to do without rural idyll.

24 cities and municipalities along the Chemnitz model unanimously sealed their support for Chemnitz’ application for the title of European Capital of Culture 2025 in a joint council meeting on 14 November 2018. At the beginning of July 2020, the mayors and mayors of the region invited to a joint exchange – in the old swimming pool in Annaberg-Buchholz. Based on a current analysis of the region’s potential, this working meeting highlighted, for example, common interests, traditions, points of contact for cooperation but also some differences that are relevant for the conceptual work.

With around half a million inhabitants, the Chemnitz region is a densely populated conurbation in Europe with enormous cultural potential. The European Capital of Culture 2025 invites you to discover the region, to see it with different eyes, perhaps even to leave familiar paths. This will be realised in concrete projects such as the PURPLE PATH by 2025 and certainly beyond.

Since winning the title in 2020, more municipalities have joined. This means that 38 municipalities from Central Saxony, the Ore Mountains, Zwickau and Chemnitz currently form the cultural region that will be the European Capital of Culture in 2025.

In the meantime, the first committed mayors have joined forces and founded an association. The friends of the European Cultural Region Chemnitz 2025 are looking forward to an exchange and, of course, to members. Interested actors are welcome to contact the chairman of the association, Mr Birkigt, at kultur@c2025.eu.

Until 2025 and beyond, the PURPLE PATH will be a large sculpture, art and makers’ path and flagship of the Capital of Culture in the cultural region.

In numerous discussion events, workshops, concerts, festivals and exhibitions, we will reflect anew on our cultural region. Together with the newly founded Makerhubs and the region’s universities, we are outlining new ideas of social cohesion, especially for young people. The diverse activities of regional museums and art houses, UNESCO World Heritage sites, churches and organic farming, memorials to the victims of totalitarian systems and many other institutions spread out like a big starry sky.