Newsletter EDUCULT 3/2015

Dear friends and partners of EDUCULT,

welcome to our newsletter informing about developments and events in arts, education and cultural policy and EDUCULT projects. 

In our new column "EDUCULT TALKS" we invite people with different backgrounds to tell us about their lives and aims here in Austria.

EDUCULT IN ACTION provides current information on our projects.

EDUCULT TALKS introduces people with diverse backgrounds.

EDUCULT IN EXCHANGE informs about international exchange and co-operations.

EDUCULT INFORMS about international affairs, projects and meetings.

Your EDUCULT-Team

WIMMER’S QUARTERLY

University to unlearn

A few days ago, my daughter took the enrolment test at the University of Vienna. Her report reminded me of the impressions I got from watching Erwin Wagenhofer’s documentary “Alphabet” on the handling of pupils in a mass education camp somewhere in China. The private company hired by the University of Vienna applied military-style organization, meaning that the applicants had to line up and follow detailed rules on the dress code and the use of writing devices. Everything seemed to follow a standardized procedure: the explanation on how to fill in the multiple choice test took about an hour, leaving the premises (a hall usually used for exhibitions) was impossible due to locked doors. Eventually, fewer applicants than expected turned up and everyone (except for one guy who was too dilettantish in cheating) got the study permission.

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EDUCULT IN ACTION

Learning in, with, and through culture

After two years of learning in, with and through the arts our research project has come to an end. Results and experiences of the joint adventure of scientists, pupils, teachers, mediators and artists are presented in a final report in German which is available for download. We are looking forward to further discussions on the topic of cultural competences.

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Urban Places – Public Spaces

In March 2015 EDUCULT was commissioned with the evaluation of the project. Round table discussions with the management, interviews with panellists and experts, quantitative audience research and social-media analysis were carried out. In September EDUCULT will finish the report and will present the results to the Goethe-Institut in Munich.

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Development of an impact-oriented evaluation concept

For over one year, EDUCULT has contributed to the development of a new evaluation and impact assessment concept, "Culture works" for the culture and cultural education programme of the Goethe-Institut. Future evaluations and assessments in the field of culture and cultural education commissioned by the Goethe-Institute will be based on this concept. The concept and a related publication will be presented in February 2016 in Berlin. We are happy that the intense development process is finished and appreciate this opportunity to contribute to the discussion on methods and approaches in the field of impact and evaluation of cultural projects.

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work::sounds – How does the working world sound? 2015/16

In 2015/16 "work::sounds" will take place for the fourth time in Vienna. Pupils of vocational schools are invited to participate in order to investigate different workplaces. The aim of the threepart workshop format is besides professional orientation the stimulation of individual creativity and teamwork. Aesthetic research and creative action inspire the young people to form a critical positions of the working conditions in their special field.

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“SAG’S MULTI!“ Multi Lingual Rhetoric Contest 2014/15

This year the multi lingual rhetoric contest „SAG’S MULTI!“ takes places for the seventh time. The contest was launched by “Wirtschaft für Integration” and aims at showing the potential of multilingualism to a broad public and encourage the youth. From the 21st of September onwards teachers may register their multilingual students. All first languages are welcome!

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EDUCULT TALKS

EDUCULT Talks: with Ahmad and Mohammed

Ahmad and Mohammed, two brothers from Syria, arrived in Austria some months ago after a tedious and partly dangerous escape. After two months in the “initial reception center” (Erstaufnahmestelle) in Traiskirchen they moved to a private apartment in Vienna provided by a new Austrian friend. Currently they support newcomers at the Vienna West station (Westbahnhof) as interpreters from and to Arabic. Last Saturday they performed part of Jelinek’s “Die Schutzbefohlenen” together with other refugees in the Arena Wien. The theatrical production by the Die Schweigende Mehrheit (The silent majority), an artist collective, got thundering applause from the audience.

They told EDUCULT about their home country Syria before the war started, how their view on life changed during the last years and what Austrians could learn from Syrian culture.

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EDUCULT IN EXCHANGE

Conference "Cultural education" in ?ód?

From 17th – 18th September 2015 the conference „Cultural education – towards innovative and creative society. The need for arts education at modern school”, the auspices of the Polish Minister of National Education (TBC) and the Polish Minister of Culture and National Heritage (TBC), takes place in the City of ?ód?, Poland. It is organised by the Polish National Commission for UNESCO, EC1 Lodz – City of Culture and the National Centre for Culture (NCK) ?ód?. Michael Wimmer will give a speech to "Arts Education in Austria".

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Public Lecture at the University at Buffalo/NY

Michael Wimmer is invited to give a public lecture at the University at Buffalo, State New York. On 13th of October 2015 he will talk about "Culture in Cities – Some Remarks on the Actural Status of Cultural Policy in Austria".

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EDUCULT INFORMS

15th International ECHA Conference "Talents in Motion"

From 2nd – 5th March 2016 the ECHA conference is organised in Vienna / Austria with the aim to encourage the Gifted in the context of Migration and Intercultural Exchange. Giftedness and high potential in a multicultural society is a topic most relevant and of high interest not only in European countries, but all over the world. The ECHA Conference 2016 both highlights intellectual abilities and also addresses the diversity of intelligences, talents and high abilities that may contribute to a thriving society.

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LET’S CEE Film Festival: Cinema for schools

From October 1-11, the LET’S CEE Film Festival will take place in Vienna. This year we have selected five outstanding movies of great educational value for the School Cinema: Europa Europa (G, PL, F), Chuck Norris vs. Communism (RO), LogBook Serbistan (SRB), ?efurji raus! (SLO) and The Brave Adventures of the Little Shoemaker (HR). We happily provide educational material for free and also offer interesting and exciting talks and discussions after the movies; 2015, inter alia, top-class guests such as the Holocaust survivor Sally Perel and the award winning director Želimir Žilnik. Tickets are on sale for 5 Euro, accompanying persons get free entrance.

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23rd ENCATC Annual Conference

ENCATC is the leading European network on cultural management and cultural policy education. Established in Warsaw in 1992, the network counts over 100 members in 40 countries across Europe and beyond. Save the date: The next annual conference takes places from 21 to 23 October 2015 in Lecce/Italy.

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