Stadtkuratorin
Leipzig

Since 1990, Leipzig has been undergoing a continuous and sometimes contradictory process of transformation. Today the city is growing again, and simultaneously it is confronted with the same social, climatic and global challenges that affect other cities. To manage these processes sustainably and in a way that addresses diverse needs, the City of Leipzig has developed several strategies, directives and concepts that also apply to art in public spaces. This text provides an overview.

The Integrated Urban Development Concept (INSEK) Leipzig 2030 focuses primarily on sustainable and socially balanced growth in response to the unique challenges and potential of the various urban districts, which can differ significantly from one area to another. INSEK provides Stadtkuratorin Leipzig with a solid foundation for in-depth research into the needs and concerns of local neighbourhoods. The strategy and directive Leipzig // City // Space // Art, which outlines a programme for art in public spaces, is directly concerned with art in building projects and art in public spaces. It defines requirements for preservation and sets out a vision for future projects. The Leipzig Cultural Council’s directive for the future design of a culture of remembrance aims to engage as many segments of the city’s population as possible, to ensure that the diversity of the city’s history and its collective memory are fully represented. The concept for the culture of remembrance outlined by the Department of Culture of the City of Leipzig provides extensive research into the focal points of Leipzig's history and recommendations for the culture of remembrance.

Stadtkuratorin Leipzig draws from this knowledge, along with the detailed strategies and concepts that have been developed, to map social transformation processes and refine the role of art in public spaces in line with current processes in Leipzig’s urban and demographic development.

Leipzig // Stadt // Raum // Kunst

The strategy and directive Leipzig // Stadt // Raum // Kunst (Leipzig // City // Space // Art), adopted by the Leipzig City Council in 2019, focuses on the city’s role in cataloguing and disseminating information on existing art in public spaces in Leipzig. It is also concerned with future initiatives for art in public spaces and art in building projects.

The strategy and directive underlines the fact that one of the most important public tasks in a dynamically growing city is to create socially sustainable urban infrastructures and living spaces, including the design of public spaces. Particular reference is made to the potential of diverse contemporary formats for art in public spaces and commemorative cultural projects as an integral part of these processes. Art in public spaces and art in building projects should be understood as a catalyst for cultural and democratic education and as a communication platform and meeting place for city administration, urban society, various interest groups, communities, scenes and milieus.

At the end of 2022, the launch of an urban curatorial programme marked a shift toward process-oriented and participatory approaches, aiming to actively engage urban communities in artistic endeavours. The programme is based on contemporary and historical examples of art in public spaces and art in building projects.

© Alexandra Ivanciu

Future of Jupiterplatz: a day of action organised by Stadtkuratorin Leipzig together with mkk Kollektiv, greater form, Utopische Tafel and the Office for Housing and Urban Renewal, City of Leipzig

 

Developing effective formats and sustainable, locally informed projects for art in public spaces requires a deep understanding of Leipzig’s unique context, including the often extremely diverse characteristics of its districts.

Since 1990, Leipzig has been shaped by rapid transformation. The urban sociologist Annegret Haase describes how Leipzig’s ‘management of shrinkage’ in the 1990s had to be transformed into a strategy for dynamic growth, requiring multiple ‘rethinks’ within just a few years.1

Following years of high vacancy rates, the important issues have now become new construction, redensification and the preservation of open and green spaces. Investments in the housing market are urgently needed, with additional measures to prevent segregation, displacement and inequality within individual neighbourhoods. Housing costs in Leipzig are now rising, both for new buildings and existing properties. Particularly in the inner-city neighbourhoods, the vacancy rate that has persisted for decades is falling rapidly. Affordable flats are available primarily in large housing estates such as Grünau and Paunsdorf.

Although around 100,000 people left Leipzig in the 1990s following the political changes in 1989/1990, the population loss has since been offset by a steady influx since the beginning of the 2000s. It was mainly young people and people with migration backgrounds who came to the city during this period. In the early phases, there was a lack of long-term employment opportunities to retain people in the city. However, this changed after 2006, particularly in the precarious employment sector, with the arrival of service companies such as BMW, Porsche, DHL and Amazon. According to Annegret Haase, the rise in new job opportunities encouraged the newcomers to settle in the city on a permanent basis.

After 2011, Leipzig recorded an extremely high annual growth rate of 2 to 3%, and since 2014, the city has even experienced a slight surplus in births. Dynamic population growth is expected to continue in the coming years.

Leipzig has also become more international in recent years: while 83,500 people with international biographies were living in the city in 2017 (14% of the population), by 2018, 50% of new residents came from abroad. In 2021, there were 102,671 people with a migration biography (Germans with a migration biography and immigrants) living in Leipzig, which corresponds to 16.8% of the total population.

In statistics published in 2021, the Department of Migration and Integration found that most people with a migration background live in Volkmarsdorf, Zentrum-Südost and Neustadt-Neuschönefeld. The lowest numbers are in Baalsdorf, Althen-Kleinpösna und Plaußig-Portitz. 37.6% of the population in Neustadt-Neuschönefeld have an international background, and 3.1% in Baalsdorf.2

At the end of 2019, there were people from a total of 176 countries of origin living in the city, with the largest numbers coming from Russia, Syria, Poland, Romania, Vietnam and Ukraine.

Integrated Urban Development Concept (INSEK) Leipzig 2030

The Integrated Urban Development Concept (INSEK) 2030 offers the City of Leipzig a strong foundation for informed engagement across its districts, promoting the development of future processes in artistic design, research and dialogue. The INSEK 2030, designed for the sustainable and needs-orientated management of urban development, establishes a binding future strategy for shaping Leipzig and its 63 districts over the next ten to 15 years. Not only political figures and experts from business and science were involved in the development of the draft concept, but also private individuals from Leipzig, who actively participated in workshop discussions and debates.

© City of Leipzig

The four spatial categories featured in INSEK 2030’s district strategy

The central aim of INSEK is to sustainably manage Leipzig’s anticipated growth, while preserving the city’s quality of life. This involves a thorough analysis and effective utilisation of the conditions and potential of each district.

INSEK’s specialist concept for culture formulates goals and priorities for Leipzig's cultural work and (trans)cultural education in the future, paying attention to both city-wide interests and small-scale or local needs. It must be taken into account that Leipzig's population is not only growing, but also becoming both younger and older at the same time - more culturally diverse, more (digitally) mobile, but also more locally connected.3

© City of Leipzig

Map of the interdisciplinary priority areas for urban development 

Stadtkuratorin Leipzig draws from this knowledge, along with the detailed strategies and concepts developed, to follow processes of social transformation and refine the role of art in public spaces in relation to current processes of urban and population development in Leipzig. The first projects in the series ‘UmRäumen - Urbane Kunst für Leipzig’ follow impulses for spatial localisation based on the core areas presented in the INSEK concept. These areas were considered a priority, as they are faced with either development challenges that are relevant for the city as a whole or with the task of reducing structural disadvantages. The core areas are defined in three categories:

1. New urban neighbourhoods are currently being created in the districts designated by the INSEK concept as development areas. Their public spaces are to be designed in a way that is inclusive, needs-oriented and accessible to everyone. Urban neighbourhoods will embrace the concept of the European city of short distances, featuring mixed land use. The goal is to ensure at least 13 m² of public and private green space per resident, connected to the surrounding area. These spaces will prioritise high-quality urban ecological design, while being suitable for a wide range of uses.

   Areas include the Freiladebahnhof Eutritzscher/Delitzscher Straße, the west side of the central railway station, Bayerischer Bahnhof, the former barracks in Möckern and Paunsdorf-Heiterblick.

2. The INSEK concept also identifies areas requiring integrated urban development, especially parts of the city where socio-economic interventions are needed.

   The focus in these areas is on adopting inclusive approaches to promote intergenerational, social and ethnic integration. Comprehensive urban concepts are to be developed for these areas, supported by the establishment of a neighbourhood management office in each location.

   The areas concerned are Paunsdorf, Mockau, Grünau, the eastern district of Leipzig and Schönefeld.

3. Areas requiring special attention are listed as part of an ‘early warning‘ strategy, aimed at addressing localised problems with preventive measures. Should the overall situation deteriorate, ‘targeted funding and specialised instruments or municipal resources can be used. If necessary, district-specific management structures can be established.’4

   The areas referred to are parts of Gohlis-Nord, Möckern, Lößnig, Kleinzschocher, Altlindenau.

© Alexandra Ivanciu

Johannes-R.-Becher-Platz in Lößnig is a lively meeting place on market days. Once a year, it serves as the venue for the Lößnig festival, organised by IG Lößnig. The use of public space in Lößnig is often determined by the conflicting and contradictory needs of various generations. 

INSEK's district strategy already includes individual approaches for each of the neighbourhoods mentioned. This should be carefully considered when planning and developing local cultural projects.

The cultural concept outlined in the INSEK concept emphasises that culture is a multifaceted driving force for urban development. Consequently, a key priority is to support and develop Leipzig’s art and culture scene with the aid of a sustainable funding structure. This entails achieving a ‘balanced, neighbourhood-oriented distribution of cultural opportunities and infrastructure throughout the city, while securing urban spaces for art and culture’.5

Furthermore, the strategy aims to encourage cooperation between Leipzig's cultural institutions through interdepartmental and interdisciplinary networks. This includes collaboration between municipal institutions and the independent art and culture scene. A central aspect is the promotion of cultural participation and ‘enhancing Leipzig’s reputation as a nationally and internationally recognised, cosmopolitan city of culture that attracts a diverse audience through its cultural offerings.’

The areas identified as requiring special attention in the INSEK urban development strategy largely align with the six priority areas defined in the INSEK specialised concept for culture. In Grünau, Paunsdorf, the inner east, Georg Schumann Straße and the surrounding area, the aim is to maintain, strengthen and develop cultural opportunities. In the extended city centre, the inner west and inner east, the focus is on maintaining and supporting cultural development.

The INSEK concept includes a proposal to enhance the participation of initiatives and the general public. In 2019, the Coordination Office for Citizen Participation and Civic Engagement was established as part of the ‘Leipzig weiter denken’ initiative. This role within the city administration was founded to promote and develop a new culture of participation in the city through initiatives such as participatory events, surveys and online dialogues. The office also manages the ‘Citizen Participation and Civic Engagement’ forum, which advises the city administration on the qualification of participation and fostering of civic engagement. The forum is made up of 19 members with equal representation from the fields of politics, administration and civic society. The goals set out by INSEK include the expansion of concepts to promote civic involvement and the expansion of co-productive projects bringing together city administration and people involved in urban society.

Guidelines of the Leipzig Cultural Council on the future management of commemorative culture

The Leipzig Cultural Council's guidelines on the future management of commemorative culture serve as an important and detailed reference. The text focuses on key aspects that can be used to develop a strategic framework for a programme of art in public spaces. The strategy and guidelines, along with the INSEK concept, address the question of how Leipzig’s communities can be improved in the future. The aim is to ensure that people can live together in a way that guarantees full equality for all, regardless of gender, age, social or ethnic background, religion, ideology, sexual identity and sexual orientation. The Cultural Council not only recommends, like the INSEK concept, that as many parts of urban society as possible should be involved in the conception of an urban practice of commemorative culture. It also emphasises the importance of prioritising groups and participants whose voices have been overlooked in the past, ensuring their inclusion and addressing their needs in discussions of urban commemoration.

It is also important to identify gaps in the culture of remembrance and, above all, to create structures that allow participation. In Leipzig, for example, it is still predominantly ‘white’ people who have the power to define colonial commemorative culture within the city's institutions. The Leipzig Cultural Council states that there is a need for a dedicated and responsible role within city administration and politics, as well as in civil society, to promote respect, equality, trust and mutual interest among the various groups involved in negotiating the culture of remembrance. Museum collections, exhibitions, monuments and existing festive events should be regularly evaluated to determine whether groups feel addressed in a negative way, or overlooked.6

The Cultural Council emphasises that the goal is not to establish a new canon or modify the existing one. Instead, the focus is on gradually opening up and enriching the enduring cultural canon of remembrance, a process summarised by the term ‘revitalising the existing canon.’ This approach ensures that elements of ‘history and forms of remembrance (street names, monuments, exhibits, rituals, etc.) are not simply removed or replaced. Instead, any necessary changes, adjustments, or replacements should be carefully considered and developed in collaboration with the urban community.’7

© Julia Kurz

The Kolonialstein is large commemorative stone near the Monument to the Battle of the Nations, first placed to commemorate the loss of the German colonies after the First World War. The original colonial revisionist inscription was removed during the GDR era. To this day, there has been no public critical engagement with this monument.

Concept for a culture of remembrance

In June 2023, the working group Erinnerungskultur (Culture of Remembrance), which belongs to the Department of Culture, presented a concept for the city of Leipzig. This concept underlines key topics in Leipzig's culture of remembrance, identified partly through population surveys, and recommends incorporating new, multi-perspective approaches in shaping the city's future strategies. The survey resulted in a list of priorities based on the respondents‘ rankings, the majority of which are reflected in the city's public art:

1. City of the ‘Peaceful Revolution’ ‘89

2. Battle of the Nations 1813

3. Trade fair and industrial history

4. GDR history

5. Leipzig, city of books and literature

6. Leipzig, city of music

7. City of architecture, culture and art

8. Leipzig, city of sport8

At the same time, the department identified cross-cutting themes spanning different eras, designed to provide impetus for new perspectives on established topics. The following cross-cutting themes were named: history of democracy and social movements, women's and gender history, Jewish history, history of neighbourhoods and districts, history of migration and flight, as well as oppression, political violence, social discipline and exclusion.9

There is also a desire to develop links between communities of remembrance that have previously existed side by side.

The cross-cutting themes can also provide starting points for the development of a programme for art in public spaces. It is ‘always necessary to ask anew: why are certain events or individuals still important today? For whom are they relevant, for what reason, and who might be excluded by previous forms of art in public spaces? Does the event still have the same significance as it did ten, thirty or one hundred years ago? And how should it be commemorated now and in the future? What influence do current events have on changing our culture and practices of remembrance?’10