media country

Since the late 90s, the Free State established a media site – and since the end of 2003 it marketed itself as a “Children media country.” The 2007 image campaign, issued by the Free State, explains what is at stake: “The home of the Kinderkanal (children’s channel), ARD and ZDF and the Children’s Media Festival “Goldener Spatz” convinces with the nationwide highest concentration of media companies in the field of children’s content”.

Until then, it was a long way: “At the beginning, there was nothing and now we have quite a few productions here,” puts Inge Lore König this development in a nutshell. “The problem was simply that there existed no tradition in Thuringia for media.” With its children’s film company, she operates in Thuringia since 2000 and produces, among other things, the Ki.Ka broadcast Trickboxx. König is a pioneer in the Thuringian film business.

Picture by: chris.gt

And today, things turned out really good for the location of Thuringia. Prime Minister Dieter Althaus (CDU) said on Tuesday on the eve of the anual Thuringian media symposium: “Thuringia was not only a successful children’s media and production site. From here, we developped consistently many ideas and innovations, which influence new media services for children through significant future projects.” “In future”, according to Althaus, “we will increase even more production and research capacities”.

Thuringia supports 1. International Solar Congress

From the 25th to 26th November 2008, the 1. International Congress “BAUHAUS.SOLAR – technology, design and environment” will take place at the Erfurt Fair. The Ministry of Economic affairs supports the preparation and implementation of this specialized symposium with 62,545 euros.

A corresponding decision was dropped by Thuringia`s Economics Minister Juergen Reinholz today, who immediately informed Dr. Frey from the Thuringian SolarCluster SolarInput e.V.

“In Thuringia, there is an unique opportunity to connect the idea of the Bauhaus with the future of solar technology”, said Thuringia’s Economics Minister Juergen Reinholz at the funds transfer in Erfurt.

The International Symposium “BAUHAUS.SOLAR – technology, design and environment” starts 2008 for the first time. Consistently, the organization of the conference will be handled by the team of the SolarInput e.V. The goal is to provide an exchange and cooperation platform for architects, designers, producers, researchers and developers from home and abroad for a cross-sectoral dialogue.

With this Congress, the Thuringian economy and higher education receive another cornerstone and an ideal platform for the development and application of new products in the field of solar technology. Approx. 200 participants and an international audience of specialists from Germany, Europe and overseas are expected to attend this innovative event.

New Encounters in Buchenwald

63. Liberation Day

With the opening of the new “Jugendbegegnungsstätte Buchenwald”, on the occasion of the 63. Liberation Day April 11th, an art project of three high schools and The International School Weimar will receive public attention.  Over several months, 75 students have been intensively facing up to the history of the concentration camp and with today’s memorial Buchenwald.

Get in touch with history

In the beginning, there was one question: “How do young people today deal with the crimes in the former concentration camp at Buchenwald, when the opportunity is given to express artistically?”. To anticipate: The artistic work surprises with a thoughtfull seriousness and maturity, which wasn´t necessarely expected from 15- to 18-year-olds.

Artistic work of students

The assortment of the artistic tools varied from school to school: Schiller- high schoolers preferred woodcuts and Goethe pupils applied themselves with graphic work. The students of the Thuringia International School chose photography, the Humboldt Gymnasium room installations. All together are showing those very intense reflections, which can be found in any of their pictures and short texts. The head of the Buchenwald Memorial is so much pleased with this impressive student work, so that a selection will be permanently visible in the new youth centre of encounters.

Pleasure – the pope will come to Thuringia

Pope Benedict XVI. wants to spend time also in Thuringia – during his extended Germany visit in 2009. There is a good chance that the Pope will come to Heiligenstadt in the Eichsfeld, said Prime Minister Dieter Althaus (CDU) in an interview with the radio station Antenne Thuringia after a private audience with the Pope on Thursday. The Holy Father has accepted his invitation.

The roundrtrip to his German home country is scheduled for April 2009. Besides the Eichsfeld, it is also planned to visit Berlin, he said. There, he will meet with German President Horst Koehler and Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit (SPD).