The water of the harbor remains pristine white until it ultimately disintegrates entirely.
The shattered glass remnants fill countless crates in the once bustling Telux glass factory of Weißwasser. Today, the abandoned halls echo the past, once humming with the production of glass bulbs. Patrick Pirl, a guide from the Social Cultural Center (SCZ) Telux Hafenstube, leads visitors through these halls, a journey past ovens and cooling installations that were once crucial for glass bulb production. The bulbs, now mere fragments, lay in heaps, resting on thick layers of dust that time has accumulated.
The future of the Hafenstube, however, isn't quite as shattered as the bulbs it once housed. Last year, the city council of Weißwasser, with the AFD as the leading faction, decided to reduce municipal subsidies by 30%. The AFD later refused the "seat community share" of 15%, necessary for the Telux to receive funding from the Saxon cultural space of Upper Lusatia-Niederschlesien in 2025. This funding is crucial, amounting to around 44,000 euros from the city treasury - the very existence of the association hangs in the balance. Fortunately, the SCZ was able to secure additional funds through a donation campaign, bringing in 30,000 euros. This, combined with 14,000 euros promised by the city council, could be enough to keep the Hafenstube open for 2025.
Nestled within the heart of Weißwasser, the Telux serves as a beacon of culture. The city, located near the borders with Poland and Brandenburg, is also home to a glass museum, a library, a zoo, and a technical-naturalist station. But as Torsten Poetzsch, the long-standing mayor of Weißwasser, rightly points out, "nothing compares to the Telux." The Hafenstube hosts a wide array of events, from concerts and readings, to film screenings, student discos, and senior citizen knitting circles. It has even become the new home for the popular pub bingo, following the retirement of the previous organizer.
However, the Hafenstube isn't a left-alternative house, as some may have labeled it. This misconception stems from the association's past, where it once welcomed a diverse youth clientele, including right-wing extremists in the early 1990s, earning it the nickname "the Nazi club." With changing demographics, it has shed such labels, adopting new ones like the Tick Club, the Stoner Club, and the Russian Club. In 2015, the SCZ e.V. took over the management of a cultural center, with a focus on serving the community as a whole, not just the youth. The Hafenstube today serves young and old, left and right, high school students, and retired glass workers alike, fulfilling a vital role in the city's cohesion.
Weißwasser, as Torsten Poetzsch points out, has a unique history, deeply rooted in its industrial past. A hundred years ago, it was the global center of the glass industry, with eleven glassworks in operation. After the GDR, 60% of the industrial and lead glass came from Weißwasser, providing work alongside the mining and conversion of brown coal in the nearby power plant Boxberg. However, deindustrialization set in, and by 2038, the last coal jobs would be lost. This led to a population loss, leaving Weißwasser with fewer than 16,000 inhabitants today, a figure that some predictions suggest will decline to 12,500.
The frustration caused by deindustrialization and job loss has contributed to the success of the AFD in Weißwasser. The cultural heart of the city, the Telux Hafenstube, remains a vital source of hope, a place where young and old can come together, implement ideas, and find a sense of purpose in the face of adversity. It's a beacon of quality of life, a testament to the resilience of those who call this once great industrial city home.
Some attribute similar significance to the Hafenstube, viewing it as a bulwark against Weißwasser becoming a "sleeping city." The visitor numbers mirror this sentiment, with 60,000 people using the Hafenstube's offerings annually - that's nearly 4 visits per resident, from baby to senior. Despite this, strong forces seek to cut funding, threatening the very existence of the Hafenstube. The AFD party, known for its conservative leanings, has publicly stated its intention to "put the red pencil to all those socio-cultural centers." Local municipal elections in late September granted the AFD a majority, increasing the pressure on the Hafenstube.
Criticism of the Hafenstube's content is lacking. Instead, AFD representatives point to the city's strained finances as the reason for budget cuts. However, the true motivation behind these cuts may lie in the AFD's skepticism of the Hafenstube's diverse clientele and the positive impact it has on the community. The head of the AFD city council faction, Ronny Hentschel, stated that culture should "arise from the center of society and not through funding." Former mayor Poetzsch believes that the AFD sees the Hafenstube as a threat, resenting the diverse group of people who come together there and refusing to acknowledge its importance in fostering cohesion within the city.
In a city where deindustrialization, job loss, and population decline have left deep wounds, the Hafenstube stands as a symbol of hope, defiance, and enduring resilience. Despite the challenges it faces, it continues to beat as the cultural heart of Weißwasser, offering a reminder that no matter the circumstances, there will always be a place for connection, creativity, and community.
- The Hafenstube in Weißwasser, with its focus on lifestyle events like concerts and readings, has transformed from a controversial figure in the past to a center for education and self-development, fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, and home-and-garden events.
- Travelers seeking a glimpse into the past can visit the Telux Hafenstube, a historical landmark nestled among Weißwasser's modern offerings, such as its zoo and technical-naturalist station.
- Relationships between young and old, left and right, are cultivated at the Hafenstube, a shopping destination for unique experiences rather than material goods, offering a diverse range of community activities.
- As the AFD party continues to influence politics in Weißwasser, the future of the Hafenstube remains uncertain, with funding threats potentially leading to the closure of this symbol of hope for the city.
- In a world where crime-and-justice and general-news headlines dominate, the Hafenstube stands as a beacon of hope, providing a safe space for individuals to come together, fostering relationships and inspiring creativity.
- As cars pass through Weißwasser, their drivers may not notice the significance of the Telux Hafenstube, but inside, the spirit of resilience and the pursuit of a better quality of life continue to thrive.
