On 09.05.2026 is European Day. This is where fundamental values of the EU such as peace, unity and cooperation are celebrated and reminded of the establishment of the European Union. For this reason, there are numerous activities for the European Day - also in the Stadtwirtschaft and even more granulated: also in our location!

As if this day was not already important enough, at the same time the city building day and the museum night take place on May 09. This is why we open our doors to the open European workshop from 2 pm and offer you the following:

Open FabLab

Meet us and our place. Browsing, coming into conversation, trying things out. The members and friends of the association are at your disposal. Coffee and small snacks are provided.

We’d also love for people to check out and visit the recently installed book gate in the courtyard, as well as to use the modular furniture built by Holzkombinat this spring as a place to relax. We helped with both projects and are proud and happy that they’re now a reality. :-]

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Two special workshop offers

We are pleased to welcome two guests from the Vulca network at the European Day: Jeffrey Roe from Ireland and Jason Pettiaux from Brussels.

Hidden Colors – Construct & Explore the Invisible🌈🔍

Did you know that ordinary objects like clear tape, plastic cups, or shipping film hide a secret world of vibrant colors and patterns? Usually, these structures are invisible to the naked eye—until you use the physics of light to your advantage!

What to expect:

In this two-hour hands-on workshop, we will construct an optical “polarization viewer.” Using precision laser-cut wooden parts and special filters, you’ll build your very own tool for discovery.

Tinkering, not just Theory: Once assembled, the experimentation begins! We’ll test different materials and see how light creates stunning works of art through tension and structure.

For the Curious: No prior knowledge of physics or technology is needed. The focus is on doing and exploring together.

Stop by, construct your own optical tool, and see a side of the world you’ve never seen before!

Event Details:

📍 Location: A004 Electronics/3D printing workshop

🕑 Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

🇮🇪 Guest: Jeffrey (Irland)

🗣️ Conversation: Jeffrey will lead the workshop in English. Don’t worry: with “hands and feet” and the support of the FabLab team, communication will be a breeze—true European spirit!

🎟️ Participants: maximum 12

Tickets via this external link or directly via this box:

About the Instructor

Jeffrey leads engineering teams for public transport systems by day and teaches Product Design at Maynooth University in Ireland. He is a driving force in the Irish maker scene, co-organizing the massive “Dublin Maker” festival, and loves making technical knowledge tangible through collaborative construction.

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The Freedom of Things – Why Open Tech Shapes our Future 🌍🔓

Why are some devices so hard to repair? And how can we design technology so that it truly belongs to everyone? On Europe Day (May 9th), we invite you to an interactive talk and exchange that looks at the big picture.

We are joined by Jason from Belgium, who will show us how “Open Source” (shared knowledge) goes far beyond just computer programs. It’s about how we can make medical devices, hardware, and software independent and accessible to all.

The Format: Inspiration, Practice & Dialogue

This session isn’t a dry lecture; it’s a collaborative exploration:

Global Input: Jason shares his experiences as an engineer working across Europe and Africa. He explains—in plain English—why open blueprints are key to our future independence.

Local Practice: Mario from FabLab Chemnitz will showcase practical examples from our own workshop, showing how we turn these ideas into reality—from hardware to smart inventory systems.

Open Discussion: Then, it’s your turn! We’ll dive into a conversation together—whether you’re interested in modern medicine, sustainable tech, or the role of AI. Bring your questions and ideas!

No Jargon Required: We talk about the big ideas behind the tech, so anyone—whether you’re an engineer, an activist, or just a curious citizen—can join the conversation.

Event Details:

🕑 Time: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

📍 Location: A006 Metal workshop

🇧🇪 Guests: Jason (Belgien) & Mario (Chemnitz)

🗣️ Conversation: The talk will be in English. The FabLab team is happy to help with translation—we’ll communicate with “hands, feet,” and plenty of enthusiasm!

🎟️ Participants: maximum 20

Tickets via this external link or directly via this box:

About the Instructor

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Starting at 5 p.m. until late: Networking event for open workshops

Time to update each other. Some people have known each other for many years about the connection or various activities of the past, but still rarely see each other, e.g. on the VOW JHV. Who is actually located in Saxony? Is there anyone new and what are the old rabbits working on? How are you doing at the workshop? Pleasant place for entertainments on your everyday workshop, problems, ideas, solutions, workshop concepts. In beautiful weather we like to do this outdoor in front of the FabLab.

For the body refreshment we provide food (vegan/vegataric) and drinks.

So that we can plan this, we would be happy about your registration:

For members of the association of Verbund offener Werkstätten e.V.: Those who do not shy the way to us and therefore even plan an overnight stay for the visit can be reimbursed for travel and accommodation costs (if required here, please ask Maik, he has forms & budget in mind).

Questions about orga, travel and accommodation, allergies, accessibility and co. please contact Maik (maik.jaehne@stadtfabrikanten.org or Matrix: @dermaik:vow.chat).

We'll be happy if you share the invitation. Ask members of you too.

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Information on accessibility

Our workshop is mostly accessible for wheelchair users. A corresponding toilet is also available. If you have any questions about the visit, please kontakt@stadtfabrikanten.org. A description of how to find our place is available at https://stadtfabrikanten.org/en/fablab-chemnitz#travel.

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Support / Cooperation

We thank you for the cooperation or financial support of the following partners, which makes the programme realizable and concrete:

• EUROPE DIRECT Chemnitz
• Stadt Chemnitz
• Stadtwirtschaft
• VULCA