In the volunteer editorial team, Volunteers for Chemnitz 2025 publish reports on their experiences, assignments and adventures around the European Capital of Culture.
Dörte lives in Dresden, Simone in Augustusburg and Solveig in Chemnitz. Although they have long been ambassadors for the European Capital of Culture, they met for the first time at the Kunstbahnhof Flöha. The starting signal for their commitment was given with a briefing and the official opening in April. Since then, they have accompanied the "Entanglements" exhibition until the final opening and the final dismantling of the artworks in August.
We have been involved since the beginning of the "Entanglements" exhibition. Our assignments last four to six hours and always start with fixed procedures: After calling Holger (Holger is the dedicated, friendly employee of Flöha town council), the doors open. We switch on the video installations and prepare the catering for the visitors.
While the beginning and end are clearly defined, the course of the event always remains open and lively. Direct contact with the visitors is particularly important - the centrepiece of our voluntary work. Our active approach creates a lively exchange in which the visitors share their stories and memories. The stories of long-standing residents of Flöha are particularly moving. In moments like these, it becomes clear how much the exhibition functions as a place of encounter. The joy of the visitors shows that our work also creates emotional connections.
The personal exchange enables us to pass on knowledge and information. We talk about the Capital of Culture, explain the background to the works of art and thus convey cultural and historical contexts. This makes the exhibition more tangible for visitors. At the same time, the contact itself enriches us: We receive recognition and experience a lot of gratitude.
The exhibition has evolved over time. A new meeting room with seating, free coffee, a book exchange shelf and films about the old cotton mill invites visitors to linger and makes the exhibition even more attractive.
At the end of our assignment, we shut down the technology, prepare everything for the next shift and switch off the lights. One last call to Holger. The doors close. We are satisfied and full of the many wonderful encounters that this job has given us.