The seat cushion concert in the Roncallihaus Gogging genethe children’s program of the Mozart Festival “Kling Klang Gloria”, the theater workshop at school, the museum educational tour in the Maximilian Museum – these are cultural educational offers in the city of Augsburg that help children and young people with art and Culture to make known. The fact that it is not just a nice way to pass the time, but that cultural education work can achieve a lot more for urban society can be read in a brochure published by the staff office Cultureelle education has now put together.
The areas of culture, education and social affairs work for cultural education in Augsburg
In 2022, this staff position, which reports to the cultural department, was created in order to focus particular attention on cultural education and also to establish it as a cross-sectional task in the areas of culture, education and social affairs. Because cultural education, as Ute Legner and Ingrid Hausl from the staff department explain in the brochure, works in a variety of ways in an urban society that has had to deal with major upheavals in recent years: the corona pandemic, the wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East, the increasing number of migrants and the different ways in which they are dealt with are having an impact on social interaction, the two authors note. The corona pandemic in particular has had an enormous impact on the lives of children and young people – with far-reaching physical and mental consequences to this day.
In view of these events, cultural education is of particular value because it strengthens personality development and awareness of social values, creates opportunities for social interaction and supports people in coping better with crises and challenges, explained Ute Legner at the presentation Brochure in the culture committee. Legner emphasized that the city council also recognizes the importance of cultural education as an investment in the present and future of children and young people. “It is an issue that is close to the hearts of all political groups.” The “Cultural Education Action Plan” was unanimously approved by the Culture Committee.
The brochure “Cultural Education in Augsburg” shows where there is a need
Based on surveys and interviews in schools and daycare centers, among cultural workers and, last but not least, among children and young people, the 83-page booklet not only provides information about the state of cultural education in Augsburg at the moment – namely, it’s not that bad , as Legner judged – but it also shows where there is still a need for development and puts together appropriate recommendations for action.
These relate, for example, to the target groups. While there has so far been a focus on children of primary school age, the offering for early childhood education needs to be expanded. And we also have to think about older people – keyword lifelong learning – in order to offer them participation in the city’s cultural offerings as low a threshold as possible.
Spaces in Augsburg can be converted for cultural education
The formats could also be expanded, for example with regard to the creative use of digital possibilities or sustainability. There is an increasing demand for longer-term programs, explained Ute Legner and also linked this to the limited opportunities that the school timetable still allows for creative work. It is also important to create new places where culture could take place, for example by converting existing spaces or making better use of them in youth centers or multi-generational meetings. In particular, Legner also mentioned the municipal museums, which lack spaces for museum education. In principle, it is desirable to think about places for cultural education as soon as renovations to public buildings are planned anyway.
According to Legner, expanding cultural education also means making it more visible. So far, daycare centers and schools have been able to rely primarily on the Internet platform “Kulturkiesel” inform about what offers and actors are available in Augsburg. “But we should cultivate contact and collaboration between cultural workers and schools and daycare centers even more in order to be more present and show how cultural educational offerings can be incorporated into the teaching structure.” Especially with regard to the development of all-day schools The daily routine of children and young people changes significantly, this is necessary. It has also been found that there is a lack of awareness, especially among young teachers, of the value of cultural education. “That’s why we want to talk to the University of Augsburg about this topic and link it more closely to teacher training,” explained Legner.
Municipal subsidies also have a leverage effect in Augsburg
The most important basis for the further development of cultural education, and this is probably the most sensitive recommendation given the tight budget in Augsburg, is reliable financial resources. However, Legner pointed out that municipal budgets also have a leverage effect, i.e. they enable funding from foundations or organizations from the state and federal government. “In this way, the city’s financial resources can be increased.” The problem so far, however, has proven to be that there is often a lack of personnel in the staff department, which has one and a half employees, to process the complex funding applications.
A new cultural education project is starting in the current school year to mark the 75th anniversary of the Basic Law. “Let’s Go Basic Law” is aimed at students in grades 4 to 13 and enables them to deal with it creatively. In workshops they have the opportunity to creatively engage with it through rap, graffiti, dance and textile design. In early summer, the project will be presented to the public with a parade through the city center and a final concert.
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