The Welcome Center Görlitz visited the Telux Sociocultural Center in Weißwasser and discovered a place where culture, youth work, creativity, and participation are intertwined. On the grounds of a former glass factory, a vibrant space has emerged, inviting people to become active, contribute their own ideas, and engage in dialogue.

The Telux site tells a story of work and structural change. Until 1990, it was home to the "Einheit" specialty glass factory, employing more than 3,000 people. With the end of the GDR and the associated economic transformation, the site lost its former importance. Since 2015, the Mobile Youth Work and Socio-Culture Association has been gradually developing parts of the site and buildings into a socio-cultural center. With the opening of the Hafenstube (Harbor Room) in 2017, a space for culture, participation, and co-creation was established. Hafenstube Telux

 

Culture for all

During our visit, it quickly became clear: SKZ Telux is not just about offering cultural events. People should be able to participate and shape the program themselves. The socio-cultural team wants to make culture accessible to everyone and promote democratic coexistence based on respect and tolerance. The motto "Identification through participation and co-creation" perfectly describes what makes the place special. Hafenstube Telux

Especially for people who are new to Weißwasser or the surrounding area, places like these can be important. Connections don't only happen when you're already part of a formal group. They can arise quite naturally through shared experiences, trying things out, or participating.

Open formats – just drop by and join in!

The SKZ Telux program is diverse and caters to a range of interests and age groups. The Hafenstube regularly hosts public cultural events, including bingo nights, film screenings, the Quiz Lab, concerts, and other cultural activities. Many of these events are open to the public – you can simply drop in, watch, participate, and meet new people. Hafenstube Telux

A great example of this is the quiz lab. Teams compete against each other in several rounds, working together to solve different questions. It doesn't matter whether you've lived in Weißwasser for a long time or have just arrived. The focus is on having fun together.

Events like the open-air cinema at the Jahnbad swimming pool or the dance café for the young at heart also create opportunities to meet people in a relaxed atmosphere. The current program demonstrates the diversity of the formats and the many ways there are to get to know the place. Hafenstube Telux

Don't just watch, do something yourself

A particular focus of SKZ Telux is on enabling young people to realize their own ideas. This is especially evident in the local lab, where they gain access to digital technologies and can develop their own projects. The facilities include 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC technology, and other tools. The underlying principle is simple: an idea shouldn't remain just an idea, but should be brought to fruition. 

 

The children's and youth center also offers space for creativity and individual projects. The ContainerTreff, located on the grounds of the old glass factory, provides a place for socializing, workshops, and self-initiated projects. This is complemented by social and educational support and assistance with school-related matters. Hafenstube Telux

This highlights another strength of SKZ Telux: people are not only addressed as visitors. They can become active themselves and experience that their ideas can make a difference.

Binding formats – learning and growing together

In addition to open events, SKZ Telux also offers programs designed for regular participation and collaborative development. Particularly in the area of ​​youth work, young people receive long-term support. Mobile youth work assists children and young people up to the age of 27 with questions concerning their personal, social, and professional development. The aim is to collaboratively discover their own strengths and potential and to achieve their own goals. Hafenstube Telux

The Innovation Workshop project is currently still under development. However, young people can already gain initial experience through the local lab or joint projects with school authorities.

The workshop is primarily aimed at young people, but also seeks to include older participants, thus facilitating intergenerational encounters. The range of activities extends from CNC milling and welding to metal construction. Participants develop not only practical skills, but also experiences of self-efficacy and collaborative work.

A place for encounters and new networks

From the Welcome Center's perspective, it is particularly interesting that the SKZ Telux combines different areas. Culture, youth work, digital education, and creative work all take place in one location. This fosters encounters between people with diverse interests and backgrounds.

The socio-cultural center sees itself not only as an event venue, but also as a catalyst, partner, and advisor. Its goal is to build networks within the regional cultural scene and beyond. Other stakeholders from the crafts, digital, and creative sectors have also established themselves on the premises. Hafenstube Telux

For people new to the region, such networks can be an important way to make contacts and get to know their new surroundings. The first step doesn't have to involve a specific integration program. Sometimes a shared interest is enough: a concert, a quiz night, a creative project, or simply the desire to try something new.

From former industrial site to a place of participation

The SKZ Telux impressively demonstrates how something new can emerge from a place that has lost its original function. Where glass was once produced and many people worked together, people now create, learn, experiment, and celebrate together once again.

Thus, the Telux Socio-Cultural Center is not only a cultural venue, but also an example of successful structural change in action. The Coal Commission highlighted the center in its final report as an example of successful structural change. Hafenstube Telux

Our impression from the visit: SKZ Telux thrives on the fact that people are not only invited to consume culture, but can also become part of it. Those new to Weißwasser can simply come to an event, look around, and make initial contacts. Those who want more can get involved in a project, develop their own ideas, or become regular members of a group.

This is how participation develops step by step – through encounters, through trying things out together, and above all, by giving people the space to make a difference themselves.