There is a large city in East Germany in which many Europeans have never heard of: Semnites. Now the European capital of Semnites culture. This has surprised many. Loss, immigration, population is aging, serious rights … Semnites have many problems. As the capital of culture, the city is now seeking its strength.
Under the RTA regime, the Semnies were renamed as the Carl-Marks-Stad. Today, the city with a long industrial history restores its old name. The goal of the Semnites of the culture: “See what is invisible.”
What is the “capital of culture”? 40 years ago an idea appeared in Greece: every year “European Cultural City is chosen.” Early priority is to protect the common cultural heritage: the title was given to cities with a large number of ancient cultures such as Athens, Paris, Amsterdam and Florence.
However, Glasgow has changed since 1990: today, preferences include urban development, citizens’ participation and cultural diversity. More and more cities in economic and social issues are demanding the title. The title “Capital of Culture” is aimed at contributing to a new beginning. The European Union supports the transformation process with funding. Semnites won the title of 2025, with Nova Gorica in Slovenia and Korijia in Italy.
Sophie and Ketlein are the over a thousand volunteers in the capital of Semnites. “There are many who complain. He says that nothing will change here. But it is precise where you have to intervene: you can change something. You can leak one hand yourself.”
One -third of the residents of Semnies are over 60 years of age. Sophie cooperates with the “Dancing Naibers” program. Alexandra Takats is directing the “generation group” as project manager. The organizers of the capital of culture, whether they are young or older, are born in Semnies or elsewhere: “We have many social cultural programs, and its goal is to join the neighboring countries, so newcomers with diaspora can be mixed with people living here for a long time.”
This should be seen in the context of the 2018 riots. Semnites news at that time. After a deadly lease, a lot of extreme right -wing scored people who look like foreigners. The Ultra -Right display is still in the region.
Semnites are a fortress of Afd, a critical approach to the EuroSeptic Party and the Cultural Capital Program with many followers. AFD’s Councilor Ronnie Lich: “Semnites are a divided city. It is said that the” bad “of rights is not part of the society. Then they continue to talk about a” civil society “they need to hear. It is not connected and divided.”
The organizers of the capital of the culture are looking at things differently. Pascal Anselmi, Training Program Manager: “If you try to engage in your surroundings, it is culture. The desire to move something, the willing to change something, the desire to change something. Don’t be inactive, say it is my city, it refers to me, I am participating. Of course, the word democracy in the best sense of the word.”
Socialist at the University of Technology, Semnites, U.F.
One of the most important projects in the capital of culture is called “Live Neighborhood.” There are activities in garages and parks, money for social projects, in which people can redesign their surroundings according to their own ideas … The cultural recipe of Semnitz is simple: being close to the people, participating and promoting culture in everyday life.