Citizen Gallery: Sharks, Heart & a Life Project in Zella-Mehlis
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An evening about courage, visions and the fascination of an extraordinary life project
The Citizen Gallery on September 3, 2026, at the Community Center Zella-Mehlis is dedicated to a story that goes far beyond a mere local encounter: the establishment of the sea aquarium as a cultural and entrepreneurial life work. On the panel, Anke Landeck, managing director of the sea aquarium, and Rolf Sakulowski, film director, screenwriter and author, will discuss with Sandra Hyneck about origins, perseverance and the power of an idea that becomes a special artistic experience of narrated reality in Thuringia. The event starts at 7:00 PM and admission is free. ([provinzkultur.de](https://provinzkultur.de/veranstaltungen/haie-herzblut-lebensprojekt/))
From the dilapidated people's house to the tropical world
At the center is a development that almost seems cinematic: in 1994, several ornamental fish aquariums were created from a bankruptcy estate, in 2001 the acquisition of the former people's house followed, and from there, step by step, a marine world with sharks, crocodiles, and millions of liters of seawater grew. The conversation reveals how entrepreneurial audacity has transformed into a place that intertwines city history, animal world, and public success. ([provinzkultur.de](https://provinzkultur.de/veranstaltungen/haie-herzblut-lebensprojekt/))
Narrated images between documentation and cultural history
Rolf Sakulowski contributes his documentary perspective as a graduate of the Babelsberg Film University. He is described there as a director and screenwriter who received the main award of the Ludwigsburg Film Festival for his film Group Portrait with Mask and has been working as a freelancer since 1995. His books and research open the view on Thuringia as a landscape of cultural stories. In this Citizen Gallery, biographical experience meets regional memory culture. ([filmuniversitaet.de](https://www.filmuniversitaet.de/en/portrait/person/rolf-sakulowski))
A place with its own exhibition atmosphere
The Community Center Zella-Mehlis itself significantly contributes to the exhibition atmosphere. The historic timber-framed building with vaulted cellar, gallery, and adjacent barn forms an ensemble that has been used for decades for art, lectures, concerts, and encounters. The gallery features changing exhibitions and sees itself as a vibrant place of cultural education, where graphic arts, painting, sculpture, ceramics, and photography find their space. ([tourismus.zella-mehlis.de](https://tourismus.zella-mehlis.de/entdecken-erkunden-zella-mehlis/sehenswertes-in-zella-mehlis/buergerhaus-galerie))
Why this evening appeals to art and culture enthusiasts
The Citizen Gallery is not a classic lecture, but a work reflection in the broader sense: it considers a life project as a cultural phenomenon. Anyone interested in museum education, regional cultural history, exhibition concepts, and inspiring personalities will experience an evening full of perspective changes. The story of the sea aquarium shows how vision, craftsmanship, entrepreneurial spirit, and public cooperation can come together. ([provinzkultur.de](https://provinzkultur.de/veranstaltungen/haie-herzblut-lebensprojekt/))
Conclusion
The Citizen Gallery Sharks, Heart & a Life Project promises an inspiring evening between conversation culture, regional history, and aesthetic experience. Visitors encounter a narrative about courage, change, and cultural identity. Anyone interested in extraordinary life paths and vibrant culture in South Thuringia should not miss this event live at the Community Center Zella-Mehlis. ([provinzkultur.de](https://provinzkultur.de/veranstaltungen/haie-herzblut-lebensprojekt/))
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- Website: https://provinzkultur.de/
