Newletter 01/2019

Dear colleagues, partners and friends of EDUCULT,

Spring time is conference time! With the longer days come also the symposia, conferences and meetings. For EDUCULT this means currently not only the participation in external events, but also the planning and implementation of our own symposia. There are two themes that stand symbolically for what is presently driving us so strongly: contemporary developments in cultural education on the one hand and diversity and the cohesion of societies on the other.

The latter is at the heart of an international research network initiated and led by Kobe University in Japan. In February, EDUCULT was invited to exchange political strategies for dealing with migration phenomena in Kobe and to present the cultural-political situation in Austria and Vienna. It is astonishing how much Japan attaches to this topic in science, although people with a migration background make up only about three percent in the country. For economic and demographic reasons, however, more immigrants could be recruited in the near future – and the fear of an East Asian refugee catastrophe is always present. Research with wise foresight. In Austria, the topic has long since arrived in reality. We will therefore dedicate a symposium in May to questioning the roles of art and culture in social cohesion. What do participatory approaches in the field of arts and culture achieve here?

From there it is not far to the platforms for discourse on cultural education, in which we will participate, for example, next week in the conference of the Council for Cultural Education. In Münster, the question will be asked as to how research into cultural education must be conducted in order to be relevant to practice. Together with the conference participants, we want to work on the applied research, as we implement it on a daily basis, as a possible solution and think further. And at a conference organised jointly with KulturKontakt Austria in April we will discuss the consequences of digital developments for cultural education and creativity, especially in school contexts. There is no doubt that the post-digital age is also leaving its mark here. But does this possibly open up new forms of participation? That is where the circle closes …

We look forward to meeting you at one of these events and discussing the pressing social issues that concern us at the moment in arts, culture, education and politics.

In any case, we hope you enjoy reading this newsletter about our current projects.

See you soon!

Your EDUCULT team

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.

Wimmer’s Quarterly

Conservative – Right Wing Coalition and Cultural Politics in Austria

In 2000 there was still an impressive potential for resistance in the cultural scene, which formed an offensive front against the xenophobic policies of the new rulers. The Burgtheater actor and rock singer Franz Morak was a conservative cultural politician from the scene who took on a decidedly political mission. Andreas Kohl, then President of Parliament, said it was time to “clean up the left-wing trash”. Morak was influenced by a revanchism that grew from his bad experiences with the Burgtheater director Claus Peymann and his left-wing friends. The mastermind of the FPÖ, Jörg Haider, said at the time that the hand that feeds you should not bite. [read more]

EDUCULT in Action

All Together

The evaluation of the project on German-Turkish cooperation in terms of refugee aid has been completed and the final report is now available. The results, recommendations and options for a possible follow-up project are being discussed together with the Mercator Foundation in a final review. [read more]

First-Time

The survey of project managers and civil society organisations working or interested in working internationally in the field of lifelong learning is open. Aside from the collection of quantitative data, civil society organisations are currently being contacted and interviewed as well. All those who wish to support us in our development of a support network and portal for international project managers are invited to participate in the survey, which can be found here. Answers can be submitted until March 17^th 2019! [read more]

More than Bytes: Conference on Digitalisation and Cultural Education

The ENO Meeting and the Conference on digitalization and cultural education titled “More than Bytes” will take place this spring. The conference will cover research findings within the fields of digital and arts education, while also showcasing models of practical implementation in different European countries. The spectrum of topics includes the education of future teachers, the use of new tools and mentalities in schools and the informal education of young people within the context of digitalization. The conference will take place in Vienna from April 11^th, and the ENO Meeting will be held on the 10^th and 12^th. The conference will be held in English and German. [read more]

BRIDGING

The thematic compendia on the five frameworks of inclusive cultural activities are now available in the seven project languages. The project portal is also online here. As part of the Vienna Integration Weeks and the EDUCULT event series “Salon of Cultures”, a symposium with actors from the Austrian and European cultural and educational landscape will take place in May, at which point the results of the project will also be presented. [read more]

Salon of Cultures: “What is the effect of participation in art and culture?”

The Symposium, within the context of the BRIDGING Project, is dedicated to the potentials and possibilities of co-creative activities. Co-creation promises a higher level of collaboration and co-determination by shaping the creative process in a participatory way from the very beginning. What are the advantages of co-creation in terms of inclusive exchange between all participants? Can co-creation overcome the dangers and difficulties of participatory activities? Through the presentation of the results of an Erasmus+ project on the topic and with the help of experts, these and other questions will be explained in both a moderated discussion and in small group sessions. The symposium will be held at the Austrian Museum of Folk Life and Folk Art in Vienna on the 8^th of May 2019 from 13:30 until 19:00. [read more]

EDUCULT Talks

EDUCULT spoke with Eleni Pallas, who has lived and worked in Vienna for several years now. After studying architecture, she studied scenography and the art of illusion. In an interview with EDUCULT, she talks about arriving and living in Vienna, the challenges she faces, her interdisciplinary work and the possibilities art offers in initiating social change. [read more]

EDUCULT in Exchange

What Kind of Research does Cultural Education Need?

The scientific symposium “What kind of research does cultural education need?” aims to explore current empirical research findings while simultaneously focusing on practical application. The growing relevance of cultural education in schooling and policy will bring together a variety of experts for the two day conference. Aron Weigl and Veronika Ehm will lead a workshop titled “Between theory and practical relevance: applied research for cultural education” on the first day. The conference will be held on the 14-15 March 2019 in Münster, Germany. [read more]

Symposium Kobe University

The PROMIS Research Center for Promoting Intercultural Studies at Kobe University, Japan organised a symposium on 13-14 February 2019 with a focus on Europe and Migration. Aron Weigl participated in the symposium within the research network “Cultural Policy about Immigration and Refugee” and gave a lecture on “Cultural Policy and Diversity: Bridging Social Capital in Austria and Vienna”. [read more] 

EDUCULT Informs

Participatory Arts Panel in Linz

This program focuses on performing arts as an effective tool for social and individual change and empowerment. Intensive workshops with professionals, exchanges and discussions provide space for individual growth and knowledge transfer. Stage Lovers, teachers, group leaders, people-lovers, change-makers and artists who want to learn or re-discover how performing arts can have a positive impact on our society are welcome to join this panel. For a better world and happier people doing what we all love: dance and theatre. The panel will be held in Linz on 15-20 April 2019. [read more]

PIE-Platform Internationalisation ELIA

 The annual meeting of PIE-Platform Internationalisation ELIA is going to be hosted this year by The Glasgow School of Art. Policymakers, teachers, deans, heads of internationalization and other staff members of ELIA Member Institutions who are researching, advising on and making strategies and policies will gather for the meeting. The PIE meeting will take place on 16-17 May 2019 in Glasgow. [read more]

TEH Conference: “pARTicipation”

Since 2017, Zentralwerk has been a member of Trans Europe Halles (TEH), a network of self-organized cultural centres with over 100 members across Europe. This year, Zentralwerk will host one of TEH’s annual meetings in the form of a conference focusing on arts and participation. The conference offers participants a variety of opportunities to exchange artistic strategies and working methods that enable citizens throughout Europe to participate in social processes. Ideally, participants themselves can become future initiators and the process will expand beyond the meeting. The TEH Conference will take place in Dresden on 16-19 May 2019. [read more]

International Scientific-practical Conference: Development of Social Entrepreneurship in a Changing Society

The scientific-practical conference aims to bring together researchers, scholars and practitioners from various fields to discuss the challenges of social entrepreneurship development in a constantly changing society. Those attending will present the results of research relevant to the topic of the conference, share insights, experiences and innovative ideas. Participants are invited to make presentations and/or prepare an article for conference proceedings in English on a variety of topics listed on the website. The conference will be held at the Kolping University of Applied Sciences in Kaunas on March 21 2019. [read more]