Cottbus Open celebrates 25 years of tolerance and diversity – a celebration of cultures!

Cottbus Open celebrates 25 years of tolerance and diversity – a celebration of cultures!

The city of Cottbus is celebrating a special anniversary this year: the intercultural festival Cottbus Open is taking place for the 25th time. This important event will be opened by the President of the BTU, Prof. Gesine Grande, the Mayor Tobias Schick and the Integration Officer Diana Gonzalez Olivo. The festival's motto, “Tolerance knows no limits,” sets an important example of acceptance and diversity. It aims to promote open cooperation and bring people from different backgrounds together.

Around 100 participants create a non-stop stage program enriched by international performances. The highlights include performances by the Indian dance group “CottbusBeats” as well as contributions from students from Pakistan and Nepal. The samba drummers “Los Pepinos” from Cottbus also contribute to the diverse cultural experience. The “Cottbus InterNETional” area on the BTU dining mile also offers culinary specialties from all over the world and thus reflects the cultural diversity of the event through smells and tastes. B-tu.de reports that Cottbus Open is one of the most popular intercultural festivals in the region and is a highlight of the Cottbus city festival that should not be underestimated.

Diversity at the center

Cottbus Open is carried out in close cooperation with the city of Cottbus, the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg and local clubs and organizations. These collaborations demonstrate the commitment of the city and its institutions to create a diverse and culturally enriching program.

In times when the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the cultural and creative sector, holding events like Cottbus Open is even more important. The federal government and the states have initiated programs to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic. These measures are intended to ensure long-term resilience in the cultural sector and in particular emphasize the importance of digitalization measures. UNESCO reports that Sustainability and climate protection are also becoming more relevant in the cultural and creative sector.

The festival not only offers a platform for cultural exchange, but also raises awareness of fair and sustainable cooperation with countries in the Global South. Transcontinental partnerships between cultural institutions are promoted and the protection of cultural workers in the face of authoritarian tendencies remains an important field of action in cultural policy. Germany has expanded its commitment to persecuted cultural workers and exiled artists, which underlines the visibility of civil society's commitment.

Overall, the Cottbus Open is not only a celebration of cultural diversity, but also a significant sign of cohesion and integration in an increasingly globalized world.