New association aims to maintain the appeal of the "Purple Path"

With national and international art, the "Purple Path" linked Chemnitz with the surrounding area during the Capital of Culture year 2025 and attracted art enthusiasts from all over the world. The Purple Path is an art trail with works by more than 60 international artists, connecting Chemnitz and more than 30 surrounding municipalities in the region.

A new association has taken up the cause of maintaining and expanding the appeal of this project. The aim is to help preserve and maintain this special art and sculpture trail and continue to use it in a meaningful way for the region, said the chairman of the "Friends of the Purple Path" association, Dresden architect Jens Zander.

The association is modeled on classic museum support associations. Its aim is to raise money for projects and ideas, to network, to organize visiting and educational programmes as well as guided tours and to establish contacts between artists and the public.

Region as a giant open-air gallery

The founding and first members include Freiberg Cathedral Cantor and President of the Saxon Cultural Senate, Albrecht Koch, the General Director of the Chemnitz Art Collections, Florence Thurmes, the curator of the "Begehungen" art festival, Lars Neuenfeld, the Erzgebirge Tourism Association and other artists, cultural professionals and entrepreneurs.

The artworks by more than 60 artists will be shown in Chemnitz and more than 30 surrounding municipalities. On display are works by James Turrell, Tony Cragg, Olaf Holzapfel, Leiko Ikemura, Jeppe Hein, Monika Sosnowska and Alice Aycock.

The "Purple Path" will have an impact far beyond the Capital of Culture year, emphasized curator Alexander Ochs. The majority of the artworks will remain in the region in the coming years.

The aim is to capture the pride of many people in what was created during the Capital of Culture year and to continue to communicate the art to people. There is also further potential for tourism. The "Purple Path" strengthens the year-round attractiveness of the Ore Mountains, according to the Ore Mountains Tourism Association.