Insights into the history and stories of the Garage Campus

“Garagen Companions” is a European collaborative project between Garagen-Campus e.V. in Chemnitz (Germany) and “Bureau Ruimtekoers – Office for Social Design & Participation” in Arnhem (Netherlands), in collaboration with the theater collective gruppe tag, artist Jana Dörfelt (Age of Artists Network), and designer Luca Ortmann.

The project opens up new perspectives on the history and stories of the Garage Campus, connecting the past, present, and future. The focus is on former employees of the former depot, who, as “Garagen Companions,” share their personal memories and perspectives. The stories are visible and audible throughout the Garage Campus site: At various design stops, there are information panels featuring portrait photographs and QR codes that allow visitors to access short audio stories from the Companions directly at their former workplaces.

The design stops become places for encounter, listening, and exchange. They transform the Garage Campus into an open stage for memories and new perspectives—in keeping with the Capital of Culture motto “C The Unseen!”

Background

Since 2021, the former tram depot of Chemnitzer Verkehrs-AG (CVAG) has been undergoing a transformation as part of the Chemnitz 2025 European Capital of Culture initiative, evolving into what is known as the Garagen Campus. A new cultural hub is emerging in Chemnitz with local, regional, and international appeal. Many people from Chemnitz, the region, and across Europe have participated in the development so far, and more and more are interested in helping shape the site.

Through the Garagen Companions project, former employees of the old depot also have the opportunity to see themselves as part of the ongoing story and to share insights into their previously untold stories about the site and its past.

Opening

To mark Europe Day and in keeping with the legacy of the European Capital of Culture, the project was launched on May 9, 2026, with opening remarks by Member of the German Bundestag Nora Seitz. This was followed by a tour of the site, during which the individual stops and their accompanying audio stories were explored and presented.

Thank You

A heartfelt thank you to our Companions Ines Venus-Rothermundt, Rainer Friedel, Bettina Neumann, Mathias Venus, Dr. Reinhart Seidel, and Karla Werner, as well as to everyone involved in the project and all our supporters!

This project was made possible thanks to the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the EUJA cultural funding program of the City of Chemnitz—thank you very much!