Chemnitz opens new Europe Direct center: focus on citizen participation!

Chemnitz opens new Europe Direct center: focus on citizen participation!

A lot is happening in the cultural and information landscape in Chemnitz. The city, which is often confronted with a negative image, has taken two big steps into the future with its designation as European Capital of Culture 2025 and a new Europe Direct center. On January 1, 2026, the Europe Direct center will open its doors and will be available to citizens as a contact person for questions relating to the EU. The European Commission has selected Chemnitz as one of six new locations in Germany to involve citizens more closely in the European dialogue. The office will be set up on the ground floor of TIETZ and will receive annual funding of 44,000 euros, supplemented by funds from the Free State and around 15,000 euros from the city of Chemnitz's own funds, primarily for equipping the work area.

The new Europe Direct center has a clear goal: it should be a meeting place that promotes trust in the EU and helps make complex issues understandable. The use of encounter formats is planned, which will be held at the intervention areas of the Capital of Culture. Chemnitz has decided to use these formats not only to convey information, but also to stimulate social interaction and promote dialogue between different population groups. What is particularly noteworthy is that Chemnitz works with a large number of volunteers who are actively involved in this process. Over a thousand volunteers support the city and its cultural projects to convey a positive image of Chemnitz and strengthen neighborhoods.

A look at the challenges

The challenges facing Chemnitz cannot be neglected. The city is not only fighting against the shadows of the past, which have made it known as a stronghold of right-wing extremism, but also with structural change caused by industrial decline, emigration and aging. The motto of the Capital of Culture, “The Invisible!”, points out that it is also about making the hidden potential of the city and its people visible. The organizers have therefore decided to focus on citizen participation and cultural diversity. Projects such as “Dancing Neighbors” and “Team Generation” aim to involve all sections of the population in order to promote exchange between locals and newcomers.

The cultural capital of Chemnitz will not be alone in the spotlight. Together with Nova Gorica in Slovenia and Gorizia in Italy, the city won the title and will realize numerous events and projects next year. This renewal in urban culture could serve as an important platform to actively address social issues and promote democratic coexistence. Sociologist Ulf Bohmann sees the application as an opportunity to look past old, entrenched structures and explore new ways of working together.

Given all of these developments, Chemnitz is facing exciting times. With the new Europe Direct center and the diverse projects within the framework of the Capital of Culture, the city has the opportunity to paint a new, positive picture and work together with all citizens on a better future. It will be exciting to see what creative ideas and projects will come out of this!

For more information about the new Europe Direct center, visit the official website of the city of Chemnitz: chemnitz.de. You can find out more about the Capital of Culture and its projects at europerightnow.eu.