Culture under pressure: Meeting in Cottbus to preserve rare traditions!

Culture under pressure: Meeting in Cottbus to preserve rare traditions!

On July 2, 2025, people with rare crafts will meet in Cottbus to preserve intangible cultural heritage. How The time reports, the Brandenburg Ministry of Culture is organizing this important meeting to promote exchange, networking and advice between participants. Culture Minister Manja Schüle emphasizes that Brandenburg is a state with a rich intangible cultural heritage that must be preserved.

But what exactly does this intangible cultural heritage include? They are the living everyday cultures that are passed on from generation to generation. These include, among other things, dance, theater, music, oral traditions, customs and festivals. A look at the nationwide directory for intangible cultural treasures shows that there are currently 168 entries. Among these is the construction of tiled stoves, a tradition that is particularly rooted in Brandenburg.

Tiled stove construction: A craft heritage

Like from the portal of the Brandenburg Ministry of Science, Research and Culture felt the tiled stove construction network added to the list of intangible cultural heritage in 2023. This craft has its roots in the early Middle Ages, when the first tiles were made on the potter's wheel. Especially around 1900, Velten in Brandenburg developed into a national center for tiled stove construction.

The network, which is run by the Velten Museum Location Foundation, the Velten Kiln and Ceramic Museum Support Association e. V. and the 850° association, has set itself the goal of researching and passing on the knowledge about tiled stove construction. This includes teaching the entire tile manufacturing process - from creating negative models in plaster to manually turning the tiles. Above all, emphasis is placed on traditional methods and sustainable building materials in order to make the heating systems more efficient and environmentally friendly.

Traditions and customs

The list of explosive traditions from Brandenburg is long. There are notable entries in the nationwide directory that need to be preserved. These include social customs and festivals of the Lusatian Sorbs, the manual production of hand-blown hollow and flat glass, as well as the preparation and use of traditional lime mortar. In addition, the Punch and Judy show is very popular as a game principle and inspires young and old alike.

As you can see, this meeting in Cottbus is not only an opportunity for craft enthusiasts to exchange ideas, but also an essential step towards preserving our cultural heritage. So if you have a good knack for traditions or are simply interested in the fascination of crafts, you should save this date. Experience the past up close and at the same time make a valuable contribution to preserving culture – that sounds like a perfect occasion!