As a supporter of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, the Volkswagen Group is reaffirming its commitment to culture even in economically challenging times. The promotion of art and culture is part of the social responsibility that the company consciously fulfils - both globally and at its regional locations such as in the Free State of Saxony. Volkswagen is the largest private employer in the Free State of Saxony and is firmly anchored in the region. In addition to its role as a premium partner of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, Volkswagen is launching a broad programme of its own. The company is thus making a complementary contribution to cultural diversity in the region and supporting the European Capital of Culture year beyond mere sponsorship. The aim is to make art and culture accessible to as many people as possible and to strengthen cultural participation. With a diverse programme of events, the Volkswagen Group makes cultural offerings accessible to broad sections of society. The commitment is aimed at visitors to the Capital of Culture, the citizens of Chemnitz, the partner municipalities and the employees of Volkswagen Saxony. The projects reflect the aim of creating cultural experiences for all generations - low-threshold, high-quality and community-building.
European Cultural Award (9 May 2025, Chemnitz Opera)
The Volkswagen Group supports the presentation of the European Cultural Award as a mobility partner. The festive gala will take place on 9 May 2025 at the Chemnitz Opera. Volkswagen is providing 15 vehicles for the occasion, which will be used to professionally shuttle the laudators, prizewinners and VIP guests. The prize honours personalities, institutions and initiatives that have made an outstanding contribution to European cultural awareness. This year's award winners include: Katarina Witt, Matthias Schweighöfer, Alphaville, Purple Disco Machine and Wolfgang Joop. The European Youth Award goes to the Dresdner Kreuzchor. Further information: www.europaeischer-kulturpreis.de
Yellow Lounge Chemnitz (27 May 2025, Club Atomino, 20:00)
The Yellow Lounge has been bringing classical music into new contexts for over 30 years. Since then, these club evenings have been a great success. They attract a young and urban audience all over the world. The concerts are visually staged by contemporary artists, DJs play classical music and a highlight of each event is the live performance of classical artists in unusual formations. As a long-standing partner of the format, including concerts at the DRIVE. Forum Berlin or the 2018 Asia tour to mark the 120th anniversary of Deutsche Grammophon, Volkswagen will be staging the first Chemnitz edition on 27 May 2025 at Club Atomino.
Line-up:
Avi Avital + Ensemble: The internationally acclaimed mandolinist from Be'er Sheva (Israel) was the first artist of his instrument to be nominated for a Grammy. He combines musical virtuosity with artistic curiosity.
Marie Awadis: The German-based Armenian-Lebanese pianist is known for her poetic compositions that interweave classical structures with her cultural background.
Philipp Geist - VJ: Berlin-based light artist Philipp Geist is internationally recognised for his large-scale projections and immersive light installations. His works have already been shown at iconic locations such as the Azadi Tower in Tehran, the Christo Redentor in Rio de Janeiro and the Berlin Cathedral. In Chemnitz, he will transform Club Atomino into a visual work of art with a light installation specially designed for the evening.
Eva Be - DJ: Berlin DJ and producer Eva Be has been one of the defining personalities of the Berlin club scene since the 1990s. As part of the renowned Sonar Kollektiv label, she has released numerous EPs, albums and remixes and collaborated with artists such as Fat Freddy's Drop, Micatone and Jah Wobble. Her sound moves elegantly between house, dub and experimental electronic genres and reflects the openness and diversity of the Berlin music scene. In addition to her solo work, she is part of the DJ and producer duo LoYoTo.
Further information: www.yellowlounge.com
Admission is free of charge. Entry is possible as long as the club has capacity.
"See the Unseen" / INSIDE OUT (13-15 June 2025, Brückenstraße, daily 11.00-21.00)
The INSIDE OUT street art project is coming to Chemnitz as part of the Capital of Culture year. From 13 to 14 June 2025, visitors and locals can have their portrait photo taken at the Karl Marx Monument. On 15 June, these photos will be made visible on the Brückenstraße stump as part of the KOSMOS festival. The project gives the people of the city a face - literally and figuratively - and emphasises the motto of the Capital of Culture: "SEE THE UNSEEN".
Tobias Krell live: Join-in show on the environment and the future (09 August 2025, "Die Fabrik Chemnitz", 11:00 a.m.)
Volkswagen invites children and young people to an event with science journalist Tobias Krell (Checker Tobi). The Chemnitz factory is a playful place to explore technology, research and curiosity - topics that also characterise the Group's work. In his hands-on show, Tobi Krell gets to the bottom of questions about the environment, mobility and the future. He brings along stories, pictures and videos from his adventures and his programmes and experiments live on stage with the audience. The show is aimed at children from primary school age (6-14 years) and their families. Tobi uses interactive experiments and understandable explanations to get his young audience interested in scientific topics. Tobias Krell is known as the presenter of the science programme "Checker Tobi", which has been broadcast on KiKA and Ersten since 2013. His formats are characterised by child-friendly presentation of complex topics and interactive elements.
Further information and tickets: www.cm-ticket.de. Ticket prices: Children and young people (up to 14 years) EUR 5.00. Adults EUR 10.00
Inklusiv Gewinnt - (17 August 2025, Sportforum Chemnitz, all day)
With the Inklusiv Gewinnt project, Volkswagen is supporting an initiative of the Katarina Witt Foundation. Inklusiv Gewinnt, an innovative series of events that makes inclusion possible in a sporting competition, can be experienced for the first time in Chemnitz in August. In this format, Olympic, Paralympic and Special Olympics athletes compete against and with each other in various sports. Top athletes in athletics, basketball, football for the blind and breaking will be competing on 17 August. Numerous Volkswagen employees are actively involved in Inklusiv Gewinnt as volunteers.
Employee involvement Volkswagen Sachsen GmbH, Chemnitz site
As part of the official volunteer programme and through its own activities, the Volkswagen Chemnitz site is involved in a wide range of initiatives:
-Visitor service: family tours (fully booked until August), extended public tours, English tours on request
-Participation in the planting festival: On 31 March, 12 employees of the engine plant planted 55 apple trees
-#3000Garages exhibition opening at the Garage Campus: Presentation of the Wörthersee Azubi project 2018 - Golf "picnic vehicle":
Video interviews with former trainees on the history of its creation and connection to garage culture
Participation in the opening weekend of the #3000Garagen exhibition at the Garage Campus from 9 to 13 May by VW employees
Project week as part of the #3000Garagen art project "The Cars We Like . Chemnitz 25" with the artist Rainer Prohaska (28 June - 5 July) and three to four trainees designing the vehicles of the future
-"We celebrate automotive culture" on 24 May in the car park of the Chemnitz engine plant - exhibition of employees' vehicles
- Cooperation with the Chemnitz Industrial Museum: promotion of special guided tours on the subject of transformation
-Sound art project with Frederike Moorman: sound recordings of automobile production and employees' voices
"Thank you party" - Volunteers (09 October 2025, Garage Campus, 19:00)
The Volkswagen Group would like to thank all volunteers of the Capital of Culture year at a festive evening event. The event will take place on 9 October 2025 at the Garage Campus. All volunteers who have actively contributed to the volunteer programme are invited. In addition to music, food and socialising, the focus will be on one thing in particular: looking back on the Capital of Culture year to date.