Maker Residence Program: European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025
European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 is now official! And so is the 2025 Maker Residence program!
They are excited to announce the second edition of our unique Maker Residence Program as part of the makers united festival, scheduled for June 2025.
There will be nine Chemnitz2025 Makerhubs taking part in the program, that offer Residencies up to one month! Aapplications have been extended until March 12th.
Stadtwirtschaft Chemnitz
Lehngericht Augustusburg
Kulturnetzwerk UW Etzdorf
ESCHE LAB
Lößnitz MAKERS – #diemacherei e.V.
Werkbank32 in Mittweida
NETZ-Werk Neukirchen/Erzgebirge
Kulturwerk Schneeberg
BUNTSPEICHER Zwönitz
Find all participating Makerhubs and Makerspaces here.
Please read all Information and dates very well, before applying, and research locations involved in the program. Check your travel options and the information on our website and instagram channel. Here you can get a feel of the festival and previous Maker Residence participants’ experiences.
About
The Maker association (Maker e.V.) is a non-profit association, organizing the yearly makers united festival in Chemnitz and the Maker Residence program in greater Chemnitz and Saxony. We aim to connect and support makers and makerspaces locally and internationally and establish sustainable exchange in knowledge.
Through this initiative, Maker e.V. are offering a unique residency program, inviting over 50 international makers to greater Chemnitz simultaneously in diverse makerspaces and come together at makers united to connect and present. Maker e.V. offers residencies of one week to one month (differs per makerspace), followed by participation in the makers united festival.
By welcoming makers into various makerspaces across Saxony, and specifically within the Chemnitz Cultural Capital of Europe 2025 region, our goal is to foster and expand our vibrant maker culture.
This residency program is an opportunity for international makers to connect with each other, local communities, share knowledge, and collaborate on creative projects that bridge cultures, disciplines, and expertise.
We invite makers from all over Europe to apply for the Maker Residence by submitting a formal application, centered around an idea or existing open-end-project. German makers are of course very welcome to apply for participation in the makers united festival and share in the exchange and connection. The application process is simple and accessible via the online application form here.
Projects of all kinds are welcome—whether you are tackling open-end design challenges, conducting material experiments, exploring conceptual ideas, or working on something that simply needs to be made.
We are especially excited about innovative projects focused on sustainability or circular use of resources, whether they manifest through advanced technology or traditional craftsmanship. We are interested in projects that mediate STEAM related processes and provoke dialogue, and critical thinking.
STEAM represents an approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking.
The core focus of the Maker Residence is international exchange, networking, and building sustainable relationships. You’ll have the chance to collaborate, learn, teach and contribute to the international maker community and of course network and present your work and project at makers united 2025 in Chemnitz, fully facilitated within the Chemnitz Cultural Capital of Europe 2025 program.
Application requirements:
- Applicants must reside within the European Union.
- Applicants should have reasonable English language skills.
- Applicants have a cultural awareness and openness with respect for diversity.
- You are welcome to apply for multiple residencies at different makerspaces, but you can only be selected for one residency at a single makerspace. Your choice for a specific makerspace offers no guarantee. As we are still involving makerspaces and makerhubs into the program, you can apply for the residency without selecting a space and we will find the fitting space for you together, after being selected.
Curation to match makers and spaces is an important part of the process. - Makers are expected to be in residence at the selected makerspace:
from June 11th until June 18th, 2025 (for a week-residency)
from May 21th unitil June 18th (for a monthresidency) - On the 18th of June all Makers will travel to Chemnitz to prepare for makers united and meet all other Maker Residents during our first of three network events that week.
- From June 19th–20th, the makers united festival will open its doors to schools from 8am to 1pm. During this time, makers and their makerspaces will offer projects and facilitate participatory workshops for student groups visiting their stands.
(workshops of 45 minutes for 5-10 students, aged 9-16 years) - On June 21st and 22nd, the Makers United Festival will be open to the general public. Here, makers will present their projects in a participatory way for audiences visiting their stand. It will also be possible to sell maker-items on the weekend.
- We will set up a Letter of Agreement (LOA) as a basic contract between Maker e.V. and all selected applicants.
- Experience with workshops is an advantage, an open and sympathetic personality is a must 🙂
Since we can only accommodate and offer a budget for individual makers and projects, couples and partners will have to share one budget and accommodation. This residency is unfortunately not suitable for bringing younger children.
What is offered:
- Personal contact with our project leader before and during your Maker Residence (English, Dutch, German)
- An interactive residency experience through exchange with a wide variety of local makerspaces and possibly co-residents at the same makerspace of residence.
- Maker e.V. will organize three network events for all participants to connect with each other and other inter(national) guests of makers united.
- Participation, presentation and international networking at makers united as a project of European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025 is offered.
- We offer exposure through our website and socials.
- Maker e.V. will cover travel costs with a flat rate of €400 and overnight accommodation. In Chemnitz this will be a hotel close to the Stadthalle where makers united takes place. We would be grateful for people sharing a double room.
The travel budget will be paid, after your booking. When canceling the residency, the budget exceeding the paid travel has to be reimbursed to us. - Material costs will be reimbursed with a budget of €300 per Maker to the Host Makerspace (Makers can make use of this budget for material and makerspaces for use of facilities).
- A daily maintenance budget (Per Diem) of €20 will be provided for the duration of the residency and festival. We will pay the daily allowance upon your arrival. This budget is meant to cover small daily expenses or short-distance travel during your stay.
- Mobility solutions for remote makerspaces will be discussed personally. We highly recommend downloading the Deutsche Bahn app
and order the Deutschlandticket for the month for €58,-. This can be cancelled right after booking, so it won’t turn into a contract. This ticket will give you ‘free’ travel in all busses, trams and regional (RB) trains.
Planning:
- One week Maker Residence: arrival 11. of June 2025
- One month Maker Residence: arrival from 21. of Mai 2025 with the Chemnitz2025 Makerhubs
- Travel from Makerspace to Chemnitz on the 18. of June 2025
- Set-Up for makers united and network event on the 18th of June in Chemnitz
- 19. of June and 20. of June Schooldays
at makers united (Stadthalle Chemnitz) 8am-1pm // 45 minute workshops (set-up from 6am or 18th 6pm) - 20. of June network event in Chemnitz
- 21. – 22. of June makers united for all audiences (Stadthalle Chemnitz) 10am – 6pm // participative presentation of your work or workshops
- 21. of June network event ‘Exhibitors Night’ 6pm (Stadthallenpark and Stadthalle Chemnitz)
- 23. of June return travel
- Book your travel in due time, to not overstep your travel budget.
- When possible, opt for ecologically responsible travel options
How to apply:
- Read all details carefully
- Check the website and socials to get acquainted with Maker e.V. and our activities.
- Look into our partaking Makerspaces on our website as well as their own website and socials (not all Spaces are profiled and confirmed yet, we will curate and match for fitting cooperations)
- Make sure the dates fit for you
- Fill in the application form completely
- Be communicative and responding during preparations for the residency
Checklist:
- I have read all Information in the text above
- I have acquainted myself with Maker e.V. and the makers united festival
- I have acquainted myself with the concept of the Maker Residence program and the makers united festival
- I am clear on what to expect and what is expected of me
- I have looked into the dates for the period of residency and the makers united festival
- I have looked into to travel options for the period of residency and the makers united festival
- I have looked into the budgets involved
- I am able and willing to work independent
- I am very interested in international networking and building sustainable connections
- I am very interested in sharing my skills and knowledge and learning from others
If all the above resonates with you, then please proceed to the application form below before March 12th 2025 midnight, when the application will be closed.
(Makers who have applied before the deadline of February 20th will still here from us until March 1st)
We are thrilled to invite makers from all disciplines to apply and become part of this exciting cultural exchange. This program offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the growing maker movement in Chemnitz, Chemnitz region and all of Europe.
Share your passion with others, and gain exposure and networking opportunities at makers united with Chemnitz2025.
We look forward to receiving your applications and to the possibility of collaborating, during this creative and unique residency.
You will hear from us by March 25th 2025!
Any questions? Please contact lianne (at) makers-united.de
Website: makers-united.de/impressionen
Instagram: instagram.com/makers_united_chemnitz
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/showcase/makersunited
