Garage yards characterize the image of many places in the former GDR. People often came together and planned and built the garage yards themselves. They had to organize materials and labour themselves. Once the project was completed, the garage courtyards quickly developed into places of retreat from the regime. They did not become dusty as purely private spaces - on the contrary: the garage courtyards became social meeting places. In addition to tinkering and working together, it is the neighborhood that is still actively lived there today. Whether it's a cozy get-together around the barbecue, a drink together after work, concerts or film screenings - garage courtyards are still alive today. People from Chemnitz focus on this continuity of socio-cultural life in a supposedly inconspicuous location during the Capital of Culture year and integrating it into the program without further ado.

Monument protection for uncomplicated places?

The curator of the #3000 Garages project, Agnieszka Kubicka-Dzieduszycka, even brings the monument protection of garages into play: “Even if they may be inconspicuous, they are incredibly important culturally and for the Eastern European part of Europe. They have become so because they were built and used differently than garages in many other places,” and continues: ”I think the garage is about the fact that it is small and uncomplicated, the door is open or closed and that is what makes these buildings so special. If you look at other elements of the city, you see that there are not so many simple buildings. There are hardly any small spaces, workshops where you can be alone but also together.”

“C the Unseen” is the motto of the Capital of Culture - the #3000Garages project is the latest example of what this can mean.

One project, various program items

We were on site and kept an eye out. On the one hand, there is the traveling photo exhibition “Mitgliederversammlung” by photographer Maria Sturm. Initially exhibited in various stores in the city, the portraits of 164 Chemnitz garage owners now gather in the newly expanded Garage Campus, the former streetcar station. Over the course of the year, more and more elements will be integrated into the exhibition there that get to the bottom of the “East Garage” phenomenon.

One example of this is Klaus Pobitzer's video installations made from digital drawings. His exhibition is dedicated to what can be found in the garages - and surprising things come to light. The video installation can be seen from May 24 to June 15 in the Ahornstraße garage courtyard, and from June 28 onwards in the garage campus.

One of the highlights of the Capital of Culture year will take place on the weekend of June 6 to 8 with the #3000Garagen festival at the Harthweg garage yard. An entire festival - including a musical and talk show - invites you to celebrate garage culture.

These and other program items for #3000Garages can be found on the website for the Capital of Culture year at: https://chemnitz2025.de/3000garagen/