A Holiday for Peace
City Hall Augsburg / Photo: RUHR.2010/ Susanne Skipiol
In what city does peace enjoy such great significance that it even observes a special Peace Holiday? Peace is a prime subject on this city's agenda and thus has become, more or less, its "trademark". Here’s a clue: The date is August 8, observed year in and year out. Have you guessed it?
It is the city of Augsburg, which has turned its attention to this subject regularly and continuously ever since the year 1650. In 2010 the modern city's reality, characterized by a diversity of religions and cultures, is in the limelight. The programme for the Hohes Friedensfest this year comprises exhibits, movie viewings, readings, guided tours and concerts. The town’s residents and visitors were invited once again this year to assemble on August 8 at the Augsburg Peace Plaque on City Hall Square and to celebrate the occasion together.
The City of Augsburg has decided to assign the transfer of the European City Charter a prominent position in this programme. RUHR.2010 was very happy to accept this invitation, as was Dr. Birgit-Katharine Seemann. She represented the City of Potsdam in receiving the Certificate for the European City Charter in Augsburg. Augsburg's Mayor Dr. Kurt Gribl signed the Certificate, dedicated to Augsburg, the "City of Peace". Dr. Seemann is the head of the Arts and Museums Department for the City of Potsdam and announced that the European City Charter would be passed along to Osnabrück in the course of a culture marathon in September.
The transfer ceremonies in Augsburg were still in progress as preparations for a guest appearance of the Peace Festival in Essen were being concluded. Because, as a gift to the European Capital of Culture, Augsburg dispatched the "Common Language, Common Sense" ensemble to appear in the Old Church in Essen-Altenessen on August 8. This was the group that conducted the preliminaries for the Augsburger Hohes Friedensfest on the eve of August 8. This offer was accepted with gratitude in the Capital of Culture. The event was also attended by members of many religious communities in the framework of the "Essen Peace Festival".