Overview

• An anonymous group, 'C the Closed,' has occupied the long-vacant Chemnitzer Schauspielhaus since May 9, protesting budget cuts to culture and social services.
• The Schauspielhaus, a protected East Modernist monument, has been empty for four years after a planned €16 million renovation was halted due to cost overruns.
• Activists are demanding sustainable cultural funding, warning that short-term austerity measures jeopardize the future of local initiatives.
• The group has planned performances and a rally for Sunday, including a concert by Banda Communale, while authorities monitor the peaceful protest without intervening.
• The occupation coincides with Chemnitz's tenure as European Capital of Culture 2025, drawing attention to tensions between cultural ambitions and financial constraints.