Being the European Capital of Culture makes it obvious to see oneself as an urban center of Europe. For Chemnitz, this means positioning itself as the hub of a network-like ecosystem of European makers on the “periphery of Central Europe.”  Especially with a view to the time after the European Capital of Culture Year 2025, it makes sense to create an institution that serves networking within Europe and with the institutions of the European Union.

The Garage with the name “Embassy of Europe” is to take on this task. It is to be understood as an institution that takes up its place on the grounds of the Garage Campus and establishes and maintains a permanent link between Europe, the major European issues and the people of the Chemnitz region, even far beyond 2025. In the sense of a European embassy in Saxony, it is intended to support cooperation projects that arise, for example, within the framework of the European Capital of Culture and are to be continued beyond 2025. In this context, Chemnitz partner cities, the network of former, existing and future Capitals of Culture or cities and regions with similar histories and comparable challenges represent important links for European cooperation.

The aim of the Europa-Garage is also to establish a direct and lasting connection between European makers, their creative places and the Garage Campus together with the people of the Chemnitz region. This is done, for example, by supporting international youth work and exchange programs (for example Erasmus) or in the form of exchange and residency programs where European artists are invited to leave their mark on the Chemnitz region.

Major European memorial events, such as the 80 years of peace in Europe, the 35th anniversary of the peaceful revolution or 40 years of the European Capital of Culture are also occasions for the Embassy of Europe to develop programs aimed to make European themes relatable for the citizens of the Chemnitz region. In addition to these opportunities to promote international relations through meetings and activities on site, a virtual platform complements the exchange on a European level.

The Embassy of Europe is also intended to provide comprehensive advice on European funding programs and access to European (special) funding. It can provide information about things worth knowing from Brussels (for example, in the form of specialist events on current topics of European politics) and thus contribute comprehensively to the cultivation of European democratic values.