Haltestelle Kultur

2025 | Chemnitz
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What would a cultural institution look like if it were truly democratic? If "democratic" didn't just mean publicly funded, but also co-shaped through participation? What kind of feedback would citizens give if they could contribute their desires, visions, and questions to the daily operations of a cultural institution?

As part of the European Capital of Culture year, the Garagen-Campus is emerging in Chemnitz — a cultural venue located in the former tram depot of the Chemnitzer Verkehrs AG. The Garagen-Campus aims to be a meeting place for everyone. The project Haltestelle Kultur explores who this “everyone” really is, and what they want. On the grounds of the Garagen-Campus as well as in other locations across the city, a “tram stop” will invite visitors to share their two cents. As a symbolic junction between the campus and the city, it reflects the visions and practices of the emerging cultural institution. These are presented to the public through a video installation, featuring excerpts from interviews with the initiators and operators of the Garagen-Campus.

Through interactive formats and participatory activities, Haltestelle Kultur gathers feedback from the people of Chemnitz — and in doing so, under the Capital of Culture motto “C the Unseen,” makes the invisible structures behind the new cultural institution visible.

Haltestelle Kultur is an upcoming project by the Curatorial Collective for Public Art, under the artistic direction of Lianne Mol and Olga Preiss, as part of European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025. It was developed as part of the micro project Commoning Chemnitz in the frame of the Soft Skills Academy II by Chemnitz 2025.

Photos: Peter Bromme
Graphics: Illu-Ralf Wolferman
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www.chemnitz2025.de/en/haltestelle-kultur