When the European Capital of Culture 2025 program begins in Chemnitz on January 18th, parallel to that in Nova Gorica in Slovenia, the city will hardly be recognizable. In Chemnitz, which currently has a population of 250,000 and is best known for its Karl Marx head, its emptiness, its catastrophic train connection and its neo-Nazi marches, a marathon of festivals, concerts and exhibitions will begin, attracting residents and… will keep visitors in suspense until the end of the year. An “intervention” is planned for the furthest corner of the city, even the most inconspicuous wall will be hung, perhaps with street art or historical photographs or knitting art. There will be no weekends without a festival – light art festival, youth film festival or, no joke, concrete festival. Reading the 220-page program presented on Friday can make you dizzy.