KOSMOS Curatorial Teams

The program of the KOSMOS Festival emerges from an open, collaborative process: initiatives, artists, associations, and dedicated individuals submit their ideas through the open call, thereby actively shaping the festival. The submitted projects are reviewed, selected, and further developed jointly by the curatorial teams for Society, Arts, and Sports:

Society Curatorial Team

Enrique Torres

Enrique Xavier Torres Solorzano is a freelance curator based in Berlin and Jena, working at the intersection of art, science, and technology. He studied Cross-Disciplinary Strategies at the University of Applied Arts Vienna and was part of the re:publica team from 2018 to 2024, where he shaped the art program. Today, he initiates projects and residency programs that combine artistic research with social exchange and serves as head of the curatorial divisions for Arts and Society at the KOSMOS Festival.

Vanessa Beyer

Vanessa Beyer is co-founder of the (K)Einheit initiative and is committed to raising the visibility of East German Gen Z perspectives. As an activist and political educator, she creates spaces for dialogue between generations and social groups. She has lived in Chemnitz for many years and actively shapes civil society and cultural processes there. On the curatorial team, she is particularly committed to amplifying young voices and diverse East German experiences.

Julia Boxler

Julia Boxler is a journalist, curator, director, and consultant with an interdisciplinary approach. She works at the intersection of media, artistic research, and social discourse, developing diverse formats and workshops. Her international background shapes her focus on post-migrant perspectives and post-GDR themes. She is a co-founder of several platforms and has been involved in numerous festivals and projects.

Kirsti Brandt-Wiedbusch

Kirsti Brandt-Wiedbusch is committed to an inclusive urban culture that invites as many people as possible to participate in shaping it. Since 2019, she has been active in the association Buntmacherinnen e.V., which has initiated participatory formats such as the KOSMOS Workshop. There, randomly selected citizens jointly develop ideas for the festival. She represents these perspectives on the curatorial team.

Zachary Cooper

Zachary Cooper is a legal scholar, lecturer, filmmaker, and musician. His research on the legal, economic, and political dimensions of AI-generated media is recognized internationally and applied in politics, media, and academia. He speaks at conferences worldwide and advises institutions on issues of copyright and AI. He also develops teaching formats and is active in artistic projects.

Kim Brian Dudek

Kim Brian Dudek is a curator and cultural manager specializing in exhibitions, discourse formats, and collaborative projects. From 2023 to 2025, he directed the Pochen Biennale in Chemnitz, where he was responsible for international collaborations and programs. Previously, he worked for the Werkleitz Gesellschaft, among others. His work combines art, social issues, and contemporary politics.

Nadine Fischer

Nadine Fischer is co-executive director of ASA-FF e.V. and was born and raised in Chemnitz. She brings extensive experience in financial management as well as in organizing cultural events. She is also active in the network for culture and youth work. Her goal is to further expand socially relevant projects in the region.

Luise Gora / Young Voices

Young Voices is a participatory project by enter – Junge Kulturregion that brings young perspectives to the KOSMOS Festival. The goal is to develop formats that strengthen skills in cultural work, media, and journalism. The project works closely with existing youth networks. Young Voices actively helps shape the festival.

Dan Thy Nguyen

Dan Thy Nguyen is a theater director, actor, author, and musician based in Hamburg. His works have been presented at venues including Ballhaus Naunynstraße, Kampnagel, and Mousonturm Frankfurt. He gained recognition for the play “Sonnenblumenhaus,” which has won multiple awards and continues to be performed today. He directs the “fluctoplasma” festival and is committed to diversity-oriented art and cultural work.

Sebastian Reichelt

Sebastian Reichelt works as a campaigner and political advisor on issues such as democracy, culture, and structural change. He is co-chair of the Chemnitz SPD and chair of the cultural association Das Ufer e.V. In his work, he advocates for social cohesion and cultural participation. At KOSMOS, he contributes perspectives on social conflicts and political tensions in particular.

René Szymanski

René Szymanski works in cultural management and public relations at Kulturhaus Arthur in Chemnitz. He studied philosophy, literature, and psychology and has been active in the independent theater and cultural scene for many years. His work includes compositions, theater projects, and festival productions. He is also involved in expert committees and organizational structures within the cultural sector.

Greta Taubert

Greta Taubert is an award-winning author and performer based in Leipzig and Berlin. In her work, she explores questions of what constitutes a good life in the context of the climate crisis, transformation, and social change. Her focus lies on utopias, post-growth, East German identity, and subculture. In addition to her journalistic work, she curates festival formats and develops performative approaches to journalism.

Arts Curatorial Team

Vanessa Azeroth

Vanessa Azeroth is a textile design artist and part of the Bikini Kommando collective. In her work, she combines traditional techniques such as embroidery with contemporary issues, particularly regarding the region’s textile history. She is also active in Chemnitz’s club and cultural scene, including through her own event formats. Her perspective is shaped by explorations of transformation and Eastern European identities.

Béla Bender

Béla Bender, born in Chemnitz, studies fine arts at the HfBK Dresden. In his work, he combines analog and digital processes and pursues an experimental approach. In 2025, he founded the project space “momentum,” which brings new momentum to the local art scene. His practice moves between time-based art and installation formats.

Beate Düber

Beate Düber, born in Weimar, works as an actress, artist, and art educator in Chemnitz. She combines performance and visual art with educational outreach. Her focus lies on interdisciplinary formats and cultural education.

Jan Kummer

Jan Kummer, born in Weimar, is an artist living in Chemnitz. He has been working on various artistic projects for many years. His practice is closely connected to the local cultural scene.

Christiane Meister

Christiane Meister is an art historian and art educator who has worked in Potsdam, Berlin, and Chemnitz. She has curated and overseen numerous exhibitions and projects in museums and institutions. From 2017 to 2024, she was responsible for education and outreach at the Kunstsammlung Lausitz. Since 2025, she has headed the Education and Outreach Department at the Kunstsammlungen Chemnitz.

Olivia Schneider

Olivia Schneider, born in Dresden, is a visual artist who studied at the HfBK Dresden. As a self-proclaimed “Ostfluencer,” she explores East German identity among the post-reunification generation. Through social media, she brings to light the everyday realities and ambivalences of life in East Germany. Her work combines artistic practice with the digital public sphere

Sports Curatorial Team

Attila Bihari

Attila Bihari, born in Karl-Marx-Stadt, is a co-founder of the soccer project #Heimspiel. As co-executive director and board member of ASA-FF e.V., he works at the intersection of sports, culture, and democracy. His projects connect social issues with sports as a social space. In doing so, he advocates for diversity, participation, and critical engagement.

Susann Drechsel

Susann Drechsel is the head of the NINERS Chemnitz e.V. office and works at the intersection of sports, education, and social participation. She brings extensive experience in club and youth development work. In her work, she develops formats that connect people and bring social issues to light.

Sandy Döring

Sandy Döring is a yoga instructor with a holistic approach. In her work, she combines mindfulness, body awareness, and community. For her, sports is a space for connection and participation.

Jenny Julian

Jenny Julian works at the Stadtsportbund Chemnitz and focuses on the topics of integration, education, and child protection in sports. She views sports as a space where social values are lived out in everyday life. In her work, she fosters connections and strengthens social participation.

Matthias Keussen

Matthias Keussen is a member of the extended board of Athletic Sonnenberg, where he combines sports with social work and community development. He views sports as a space where democratic values are put into practice and new perspectives are opened up. This approach also shapes his involvement in the KOSMOS Festival, where he works to promote sports as a gateway to social participation.

Franziska Sieber

Franziska Sieber brings many years of experience from various sports contexts, as well as insights into youth and competitive sports. Her perspective is strongly shaped by her own practical experience and ongoing involvement in the sports community. As a member of the Buntmacherinnen Chemnitz, she is committed to democracy, tolerance, and social diversity. She also views this commitment as a central component of sports and community.