WICHTIGE INFO
We arrived at the Stadtwirtschaft in September 2024, 9 months after our move. We are currently still building our premises and basic infrastructure and are therefore unable to offer an open workshop. Visit our homepage regularly to find out the latest news from us. You still want to visit us? You're welcome! There is a public tour on the first Wednesday of every month. Otherwise, you can also contact us by e-mail or request an appointment.

Lab Accessible, c´est possible! // 17.-20.07.

By Maik Jähne, 4 July, 2025

Lab Accessible, c´est possible!  - to Chemnitz on 17.7. + Workshop on 18.-20.7.

The Stadtfabrikanten set off on an extensive (workshop) exploration trip to France in April. The main goal: to identify open workshops that have experience in the field of inclusion and creating accessibility. Now we have a) invited guests from France from these workshops and b) we want to share the solutions and experiences from the “Tour de France” as part of MakerKultur.

Information and exchange format with practical workshop at the Stadtwirtschaft

Makerspaces stand for creativity, technology and shared learning - but many people with disabilities, neurodiverse people or people with other access barriers still encounter barriers that make active participation difficult. We want to change that!

Together we want to

  • Making challenges and perspectives visible
  • Share experiences and best practices
  • Develop concrete steps for more accessibility, especially for the urban economy
  • Rethinking spaces and tools - for more openness, diversity and participation

The event is aimed at everyone: makers, initiatives, organizations, experts, interested parties and those affected. No prior knowledge is required - every vote counts! Let's create together: for an inclusive maker culture!


Program

Part 1: 17.07.2025  / 17:00 to 20:00 "Creating inclusive future ourselves!"

Information and exchange evening on inclusive makerspaces

Location: Event hall of Stadtwirtschaft, Jakobstr. 46, 09130 Chemnitz (access via the bridge from Jakobstraße, or with the elevator next to the FabLab entrance from the courtyard Schüffnerstr. 1). Click here for the map: https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/766854085

➡️ Please register by e-mail to: maik.jaehne@stadtfabrikanten.org - entry is free and for everyone!

Speakers

Hugues Aubin, Co-founder of My Human Kit (MHK) from Rennes in France: The MHK is a so-called “human lab”, a laboratory, a workshop for people. It invites people with disabilities to become the focus of their own project, i.e. to transform their disability into motivation. They are asked to participate in solving their problem and to put together a team that uses the combined power of solidarity (All Together), DIY (Do It Yourself) and digital manufacturing (FabLab).

Mario Voigt, Chairman of the Board of Stadtfabrikanten and founding member and Babette Sperling, (fashion designer) have been involved with FabLab Chemnitz for many years and talk about aha-moments, inspiration and role models they met on the workshop trip.

Maik Jähne: Moderation, founding member of Stadtfabrikanten e.V., board member of Verbund Offener Werkstätten (VOW) and SLUB Makerspace Dresden team


Part 2: 18.7. - 20.07.2025 Workshop: Build and get to know “BrailleRap” yourself - hands on!

From Friday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00

Location: FabLab Chemnitz, Schüffnerstraße 1, Chemnitz (access directly via the large courtyard entrance)

BrailleRAP. This is a machine that can convert various graphic formats/files into Braille patterns using software. In this way, visually impaired and blind people can feel various shapes much better with an explanation. The tactile experience makes it possible, for example, to feel the shapes of plants, a child in the womb or various hiking maps or even maps. Images, graphics, maps or even mathematical functions can also be felt - using simple sheets of paper in A3 or A4 format.
The highlight: anyone can build and use these machines themselves with a little skill and equipment or workshop experience - all building instructions, software programs and firmware interfaces are permanently open source and free of charge (Free Open Source Software, FOSS for short).

What we do together with you (the participants):

  • explore FabLab Chemnitz workshops and Stadtwirtschaft area
  • get known to different FabLab members and visitors as well as Hugues Aubin and have interesting talks
  • enhance your skills on topics like 3D printing, laser cutting, mechanics, electronics, Arduino and Open Source Software
  • build two BrailleRap XL machines (ready to work with A3 paper size) together with us
  • try out the different software
  • contribute to BrailleRap project with your own ideas and works on top of this
  • have a good time

The machines built can later be used for common events and for borrowing, for instance!

➡️ Registration: Please register for the workshop by e-mail: maik.jaehne@stadtfabrikanten.org - entry is free and for everyone!


Notes on accessibility

  • Assistance dogs welcome - it is possible to bring an assistance dog.
  • Wheelchair accessible. There is an elevator for the event hall. There is a ramp for access to the wood workshop in the FabLab. A disabled toilet is available.
  • If you have any questions or need support, please contact us in advance at: maik.jaehne@stadtfabrikanten.org
  • For workshops, height-adjustable tables/workbenches with wheelchair access are available in some case
  • Is there any information missing here? We are still learning! Feel free to ask and comment. Thank you!

More hints

  • Snacks and drinks will be provided
  • If you have any questions about the accessibility of the courtyard or individual rooms, please do not hesitate to write us an e-mail, give us a call or contact us directly at any time during the event.

Support

The workshop is supported by the Makers, Business & Arts project of Landesverband der Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft Sachsen e.V.

A project within the framework of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025. This measure is co-financed by tax funds on the basis of the budget adopted by the Saxon State Parliament, by federal funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, as well as funds from the City of Chemnitz.

The project “Creating inclusive future ourselves!” by Stadtfabrikanten e.V. is supported by Deutsch-Französischen Bürgerfonds.

Poster

Comments