Chemnitz is transforming: special exhibition shows industrial visions of the future

Chemnitz is transforming: special exhibition shows industrial visions of the future

On April 30, 2025, the special exhibition “Tales of Transformation” will take place in the Chemnitz Industrial Museum opened and can be seen until November 16, 2025. This intensive exhibition addresses the changes in Chemnitz and compares the developments of this city with five other European industrial hotspots: Mulhouse (France), Tampere (Finland), Gabrovo (Bulgaria), Łódź (Poland) and Manchester (England).

The history of Chemnitz is inextricably linked to industrial production. In the 19th century, the city was considered the center of industrial production in Saxony and essentially retained this character during the GDR period. However, with the change in 1989, Chemnitz faced enormous challenges. The subsequent declines in industry meant that both the city and its citizens were forced to redesign and transform.

Industrial cultural heritage and transformation processes

The exhibition impressively shows how cities deal with their industrial heritage and what visions they develop for the future. An outstanding example of the successful transformation is the former stock spinning mill, which was converted into the university library of Chemnitz University of Technology. This was founded in 1858 as the largest spinning mill in Saxony and, with its own railway connection, encompassed an important dimension of the region's industrial development.

Stock spinning is closely linked to the history of the cotton industry in Germany. As in Chemnitz University of Technology blog reported, the founding of the spinning mill was decided on March 30, 1857. The construction, led by master bricklayer Müller and architect Roschig, used modern construction methods with iron and brick, resulting in a fireproof and practical building. The completion of the main building was completed by 1859.

The stock spinning mill suffered severe damage during the Second World War and then had various uses before it became the property of the Free State of Saxony in 2011. The conversion to the university library began in 2015 and the opening took place in June 2020. The library offers over 700 workstations and 38 kilometers of library and archive material, which impressively underlines the transformation of the building. The university library received the German University Building Prize in 2022 for its sensitive handling of the historical building structure.

Innovations and accompanying programs

The exhibition also focuses on industrial innovations. This includes the new e-bike (Smart Pedal Vehicle), developed by the MERGE research cluster at Chemnitz University of Technology. In addition, the spin-off Novajet, which specializes in waterjet cutting, was founded in 2019 and shows how research can be translated into innovative products.

Urban research at Chemnitz University of Technology also provides a certain context for the exhibition with the topic “Making the City: Transformative Processes in (Post)Industrial Urban Spaces”. An anthology by Prof. Dr. Cecile Sandten expected in December 2024, based on a DFG-funded conference that took place in 2023.

The opening hours of the exhibition are Tuesday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, Sunday and public holidays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The entry price is 10 euros, reduced 8 euros, while schoolchildren, students at Chemnitz University of Technology and everyone up to the age of 18 have free entry.

Guided tours, project days, workshops, readings, film screenings and concerts are planned as part of joint activities for the special exhibition. These events are part of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 project, which is made possible by tax funds based on a budget resolution of the Saxon state parliament as well as federal funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media.