From October 22 to 24, 2025, the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH) will bring together over 100 international experts from 17 countries for its annual network conference at the Chemnitz Industrial Museum. The conference will focus on the motto of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025: “C the unseen” – with a special focus on Europe's intangible industrial heritage.
The conference will address topics such as language, beer traditions, mining customs, and other cultural expressions closely linked to Europe's industrial development. International best practice examples from Austria, Finland, Portugal, Scotland, and Greece will show how intangible heritage is made visible and marketed in museums and tourism.
A highlight of the conference will be the public panel discussion on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. in the Rasmussenhalle of the Chemnitz Industrial Museum. Under the title “Capital of Culture as a driver for industrial culture?”, experts from current and former European Capitals of Culture will discuss the significance and impact of the title for industrial culture.
Participants in the panel discussion are Andreas Murray, Director of Tourism Almtal-Traunsee, Austria (Capital of Culture 2024), Tomas Raboch, owner of an incoming agency in Pilsen, Czechia (Capital of Culture 2015), Anne-Cathérine Richard from CNCI – Centre National de la Culture Industrielle in Luxembourg (Esch-sur-Alzette, Capital of Culture 2022/2023) and Thomas Lein, Mayor of Oelsnitz/Erzgebirge for Chemnitz/Capital of Culture 2025). The discussion will be moderated by Dr. Walter Hauser, President of ERIH and Director of the LVR Industrial Museum with eight locations, which were also part of the RUHR.2010 Capital of Culture.
The following questions, among others, will be discussed:
· What role did industrial culture play in the application and implementation of the Capital of Culture?
· What regional economic effects were achieved?
· To what extent did the Capital of Culture make industrial culture more visible and relevant?
· How does the project influence regional identity?
· Will these effects continue beyond the Capital of Culture year?
The discussion (in English) is open to the public and free of charge.