Dierks: Capital of Culture is a unique opportunity for Chemnitz

Chemnitz can confidently present itself as the European Capital of Culture 2025, according to Alexander Dierks, President of the State Parliament. "The people of Chemnitz can be proud of their city: With its industry and inventive spirit, Chemnitz has always made a decisive contribution to Saxony's prosperity and cultural diversity," explained Dierks with a view to the opening of the Capital of Culture year celebrations on Saturday.

"People from all over Europe are looking to Chemnitz this year as the European Capital of Culture 2025. This is a unique opportunity for the city and the entire Chemnitz region to present itself as modern, innovative and full of life," said Dierks. Numerous individual projects have succeeded in involving many places and people. This enthusiasm can be felt everywhere in the city.

Big kick-off show on Saturday

The year as European Capital of Culture begins in Chemnitz on Saturday with a big show at the Karl Marx Monument, probably the city's best-known landmark. Up to 20,000 visitors are expected alongside celebrities. Admission starts at 5 p.m. and there will be security checks.

Greens expect a demonstration of confidence

Greens politician Claudia Maicher is expecting a big celebration of culture, cosmopolitanism and active and democratic coexistence. "I am very much looking forward to the diverse program in the city and the Capital of Culture region, to the unexpected and previously unseen," she said. "This year is a powerful demonstration of confidence."

Jewish community also sees opportunity for the city

The Jewish community sees the opportunity for people from all over Europe to experience Chemnitz and see that it is not a "Nazi city". And that the city will lose the bad reputation that the marches in the summer of 2018 gave it, as community chair Ruth Röcher says.

In August 2018, a German man was stabbed to death during an argument with asylum seekers on the fringes of the Chemnitz city festival. The crime had triggered demonstrations and racist attacks instrumentalized by right-wing extremists, which shook Chemnitz for months.