Open spaces for free culture - an intervention area for the Subbotnik
Dear friends of the Subbotnik,
the Chemnitz Mitte citizens' platform called for ideas for upgrading squares or locations in
their catchment area that are particularly suitable for concerts, performances and other events
. An area that will be used in particular for 2025, but should also remain an important cultural venue beyond that
. We at Subbotnik e.V. took this opportunity to propose the
area behind our club premises - and thanks to your support, the
majority of Chemnitz residents voted in favor of it.
Our approach
The existing outdoor area of the Subbotnik is to be joined by the adjacent former sports field,
to create a multifunctional event space. Ideas for an artistically designed
stage were already buzzing around in our heads as wishes and dreams. However, in keeping with our
socio-cultural approach, we don't want to design the space solely as a subbotnik, but
above all to give potential guests and users the opportunity to let off steam creatively
. To this end, we have been organizing meetings via our reach for several weeks now,
in which young people in particular have been able to participate and contribute their wishes and ideas in a
group process.
An area for everyone - with a simultaneous shelter concept
Many ideas have been merged from the participation process that we initiated: the
multifunctional stage, a dance pavilion, areas for urban gardening, decentralized seating and
barbecue areas, decentralized sports and play areas. All of this will be framed by trees and shrubs.
But that's not all: the area should always remain open to change, be able to pick up on new cultural
trends and thus invite a diverse public to linger and get active.
The aim is to create a space in which amateurs, actors from the cultural, educational and social sectors
as well as professional artists can realize their ideas - festivals, workshops, theater and garden projects,
and much more. - can be realized. The aim is to promote sustainable culture and art in Chemnitz and
Bernsdorf.
The shelter aspect has been explicitly mentioned in the process so far: Voices have been raised that would like to avoid a
further focal point in the city and create a discrimination-sensitive space despite
the public in order to be able to offer marginalized people in particular areas for
development.
We as Subbotnik e.V. would like to take responsibility for this space in order to continue to accompany this
participatory process and to work together with all interested parties to implement
. Above all, it is important to us to enforce the requirement for a
discrimination-sensitive space - provided that we as an association are legally entrusted with the management of the
space. This would also be a great advantage for the low-threshold and coordination of
space usage.
What else is needed?
On Saturday, 18.06.22, from 12:00-15:00 , the official event of the city of Chemnitz for
the citizen* participation in the outdoor area of Subbotnik e.V. will take place. We would be delighted if
as many friends of Subbotnik e.V. as possible would join us and support us in
this process in a spirit of discussion.
Come in large numbers, we look forward to seeing you!
Your Subbotniks.