Two European Capitals of Culture in 2025
From 1 January 2025, the cities of Chemnitz in Germany and Nova Gorica in Slovenia are European Capitals of Culture.
Chemnitz
Opening: 18 January
Chemnitz together with 38 municipalities from Central Saxony, the Ore Mountains and the Zwickau region, has been named European Capital of Culture 2025 in Germany. Chemnitz and its surrounding region are linked by a vibrant shared cultural and industrial heritage.
The European Capital of Culture title is an invitation to all to come and discover the history of the eastern German area at the heart of Europe.
C the Unseen
The motto for Chemnitz 2025 - "C the Unseen" - is both an invitation and a programme that aim to make the previously unseen and undiscovered visible. The title "European Capital of Culture" shines a light on people, places and activities that have not yet been the focus of tourist attention. They want to show themselves and warmly connect with and welcome guests from all over Europe.
The programme includes festivals, exhibitions, theatre, performances, concerts, but also sports, culinary delights, workshops, and events. Many local actors are involved, as well as renowned national and international artists.
Highlights of the programme
The European Workshop for Culture and Democracy
A myriad of participatory community-driven projects aimed at giving renewed impetus to the democratic values of the European Union.
The #3000Garages project
It will convey the individual stories of garage users against the backdrop of Chemnitz history and include various types of cultural activities in garage courtyards.
The Purple Path art and sculpture trail
It presents 38 new sculptures and art installations by renowned female and male international, national, and Saxon artists tell the stories of local people, artisanry and industry in the 38 partner municipalities.
Major exhibitions
Exhibitions on Edvard Munch and on Realist movements in the Europe of the 1920s and 1930s.
Nova Gorica
Opening: 8 February
On one side, there is Nova Gorica, built from scratch after World War II, once the dividing border between Italy and Slovenia was drawn. On the other, Gorizia, a cultural, administrative, and economic centre with a long history.
GO! Borderless
Under the title “GO! Borderless”, Nova Gorica, the European Capital of Culture 2025 in Slovenia, wants to use the title-year as a vehicle to give visibility to the combined heritage of a modernist city and a thousand-year-old city, transcending their boundaries on a journey of reconciliation.
Throughout the year, Nova Gorica 2025 will offer a very rich cultural and artistic programme. It’s unique projects will transcend the ordinary and go beyond physical or cultural borders between societies in Europe to prove that cross-border endeavours have a positive impact on the growth of European medium-sized cities, which are essential pieces of the European Union’s mosaic.
Highlights of the programme
The European Platform for the Interpretation of the Century (EPIC)
This will be a shared space fostering dialogue between historically antagonistic narratives and encouraging visitors to discover the broader implications of historical memory. EPIC will be inaugurated on Europe Day 2025.
A Walk of Peace
Along a trail of remembrance about World War I, linking more than 300 monuments in a unique route of over 500 kilometres from the Alps to the Adriatic to spread a message of peace, cooperation, and friendship between peoples.
The Biennial of Young Artists of Europe and Mediterranean (BJCEM)
It will present the works created during residency projects of a hundred artists under 35 years.
Mušič exhibitions
Exhibitions showcasing the works of Slovene-born and Dachau survivor painter Mušič, who also worked in Venice and Paris and is a symbol of artistic resistance to the catastrophes of the 20th century.
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