"Let's do it like the village festival"

From Sächsische Zeitung Zittau, 18.05.2019
By Jana Ulbrich

Would it really be good for a small town like Zittau to want to become the European Capital of Culture? Or is it completely unrealistic? Would the world smile at us? How should the people of Zittau decide on election Sunday? "Definitely vote yes," say cultural scientists Matthias Theodor Vogt and Maik Hosang. In an interview with SZ, they also explain why.

Professor Dr. Vogt, Dr. Hosang, the people of Zittau are to vote on election Sunday on whether the city should apply for the European Capital of Culture title. Is that a good thing?

Vogt: That's great! That's the ideal case of democracy. Everyone has the chance to have their say on this issue: Do we want it or don't we want it.

And do you think the people of Zittau should want it?

Hosang: Absolutely! It would be a great opportunity for the whole region, especially for our self-confidence and pride in ourselves and what we have to offer here. We really are the heart of Europe here. We have such a rich, great and important cultural history and cultural landscape here that should be the envy of the whole world.

Vogt: In Naples, the cultural mayor is called the "Mayor for Identity Issues". That hits the nail on the head: the region has such a rich and magnificent history, which is an incredible asset. But since 1945, the majority of Zittau has been surrounded by a foreign language area. Added to this is the economic disparity with an income level that is significantly lower in Poland and the Czech Republic. This overshadows the cultural and historical wealth. Zittau and the region now have a unique opportunity to regain their identity and pride.

Isn't that a bit too big a challenge for Zittau?

Hosang: Sure, compared to Dresden and Chemnitz, the other two candidate cities from Saxony, it looks like David versus Goliath, but it only seems that way: Size alone isn’t what matters—it’s more about how the idea is supported. I’m certain Zittau has the greater potential here. Just take the student demonstrations on Friday, for example. There were 200 students on the streets in Zittau, compared to 400 in Dresden—even though, statistically speaking, there should have been 5,000.

Vogt: Let’s just do it like we do at the village festival: If everyone pitches in and gets involved, then that’s a great opportunity without all the big money.

Without a lot of money?

Vogt: Yes . What we need here isn’t primarily money, but something that breaks through this apathy born of hopelessness that I encounter time and again in the region. Bold, colorful, fun ideas, for example: I was recently in Löbau, where someone told me that the name Löbau comes from the Sorbian word for “love.” That would be it: “Löbau—the City of Love.” That’s the kind of boldness I’d like to see. The whole country would be talking about a promotional poster like that.

Hosang: Or a slogan like: “Germany’s Basic Law comes from Zittau.” Very few people know that, after all. Herrmann Lotze, one of the greatest German philosophers of the 19th century, grew up in Zittau and played a decisive role in shaping our modern concept of “values.”

Vogt: Or: “Live where others go on vacation.” We have such a magnificent cultural landscape here. But for some, pride in all these things is still overshadowed by frustration over the dilapidated GDR industry.

And could an application for “Capital of Culture” help with that?

Hosang: Absolutely. The whole world will take notice of the Three-Country Corner, and many visitors will come. And we can show everyone the intellectual and cultural wealth we have here.

Vogt: At this point, I’d like to get political again: The greatest enemy of thriving development is narrow-mindedness. Inviting people from all over the world and reaching out to our neighbors in the “Dreiländereck”—the application for the Capital of Culture would be a wonderful framework for that. Even if Zittau ends up as the runner-up, just like Görlitz did back then, something positive will remain. It’s worth it!