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Shaping Dresden Together: Buga 2033 and the Creative Industries Join Forces
BUGA Dresden 2033 and WIR GESTALTEN DRESDEN have agreed to a strategic partnership for creative urban development and long-term initiatives in Dresden.
BUGA Dresden 2033 gGmbH and WIR GESTALTEN DRESDEN (WGD), the trade association for Dresden’s cultural and creative industries, signed a strategic cooperation agreement on August 27, 2026, at the Alte Gärtnerei Pieschen as part of the WGD MEMBERS MEETUP. Together, the two partners aim to integrate the potential of Dresden’s cultural and creative industries into the development of the Federal Horticultural Show at an early stage and to test new forms of collaboration for urban development.
BUGA Dresden 2033 sees itself not merely as a major event in 2033, but as a long-term urban development project. The partnership with WIR GESTALTEN DRESDEN serves as an important bridge to Dresden’s cultural and creative scene. WGD brings its network and many years of experience in innovation, participation, and collaboration processes at the intersections of culture, business, science, government, and urban society to the planning of BUGA Dresden 2033.
“BUGA 2033 is to take shape in Dresden and be designed in collaboration with the people, businesses, and institutions of this city. The cultural and creative sectors bring exactly what we need: new perspectives, the courage to think differently, and the ability to turn ideas into concrete projects. With WIR GESTALTEN DRESDEN, we’re gaining a strong partner that brings these strengths together and contributes them to the BUGA process alongside us,” says Marcel Timmroth, Managing Director of BUGA Dresden 2033 gGmbH.
Involve stakeholders in Dresden and develop new ideas
Creative professionals, companies, initiatives, and institutions from Dresden should have the opportunity early on to contribute their expertise and ideas to the development of the BUGA. To this end, WIR GESTALTEN DRESDEN brings together members and network partners, as well as contacts from business, academia, government, politics, and civil society.
“Dresden’s cultural and creative industries are a vast network of people who create, experiment, and bring together a wide variety of disciplines. The BUGA offers an opportunity to make this potential visible and effective for urban development. It is important to us that Dresden’s creative professionals are not merely brought in at the end of a process, but are able to contribute their ideas and help shape the process from the very beginning,” says Frieda Pirnbaum, Executive Director of WIR GESTALTEN DRESDEN.
Strengthening Visibility and Local Economic Growth
Joint projects and initiatives are intended to highlight BUGA Dresden 2033 as a platform for creative and collaborative urban development, while also raising public awareness of the capabilities of Dresden’s cultural and creative industries.
By involving Dresden-based creative companies and stakeholders early on in the development of suitable projects, opportunities for local value creation are created.
Shaping Dresden Together—Beyond 2033
This strategic partnership provides the framework for developing and testing creative, participatory formats, as well as for further cooperation during the planning and implementation phases of the Federal Garden Show from 2027 to 2033.
The focus is deliberately set beyond the exhibition year. Where appropriate, the organizational and network structures being developed are to be continued beyond 2033 and utilized for future urban development and innovation processes. The goal is to forge lasting connections between culture, the creative industries, science, education, sports, business, government, and urban society.
The goal is for this collaboration not only to help creatively shape the BUGA Dresden 2033, but also to build networks and generate momentum that will benefit Dresden in the long term.
About BUGA DRESDEN 2033
The 2033 Federal Horticultural Show in Dresden is a forward-looking project for the sustainable development of the state capital. At its heart are two green corridors that connect neighborhoods, people, and nature: Corridor 1 integrates the new Südpark, the TU Dresden campus, and the city center, creating new spaces for innovation, social interaction, and high-quality urban open space. Lifeline 2 brings together the Dresden-Seidnitz racetrack, Prohlis, and the Kiesseen lakes in Leuben to form a cohesive space for nature, recreation, and physical activity.
The BUGA will create climate-resilient open spaces, attractive pedestrian routes, and sustainable green spaces that will improve the quality of life in Dresden in the long term. The Federal Horticultural Show is thus a driving force for urban development, climate adaptation, and social cohesion. In this way, we are planting a future whose impact will extend far beyond 2033.
About WE SHAPE DRESDEN
WIR GESTALTEN DRESDEN is the network for Dresden’s cultural and creative industries. We connect stakeholders, launch projects, and advocate for the sector’s interests with policymakers, government agencies, and the public.
More than 23,000 creative minds, over 1 billion EUR in annual value added—that’s Dresden’s cultural and creative industries. Divided into 12 sub-sectors, this industry is both the creative and diverse heart of the city and a vital economic sector.
As the trade association for this diverse and productive sector, WIR GESTALTEN DRESDEN – Branchenverband der Dresdner Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaft e. V. represents the interests of Dresden’s creative minds in dealings with policymakers and government officials at the local and state levels.
For more information, visit www.wir-gestalten-dresden.de.