Culture of diversity - by all for all
Content of the page
- Events and activities for inclusive cultural work
- Starting signal for a culture of diversity: NOW EVERYONE - the experimental real-world laboratory
- Good examples of inclusive projects and cultural institutions in the region
- Tips and advice for accessible cultural work
- Information and contact points
- Participation in culture is a human right - Basics
Events and activities for inclusive cultural work
June 26, Altena: Crash course in easy language
Introduction to Easy Language in Cultural Work
In this course, we'll explore the history and significance of plain language. In addition to "what it's good for," we'll also cover "how it's done." Examples from everyday work will be used. In the practical part, we'll gain our first experiences with translation and try out what it's like to speak plain language.
26 September, Lüdenscheid: Telling stories with all the senses
Workshop on inclusive storytelling
In this workshop, participants will learn about the concept of mehr¬Sinn® Stories and develop their own stories. Mehr¬Sinn® Stories is a format that transforms fairy tales and stories and makes them accessible to all the senses, allowing people with disabilities to understand them.
kubia online event series "Basic Knowledge of Accessibility"
Multiple appointments!
In kubia's online series "Basic Knowledge on Accessibility," you'll receive tips on analyzing, planning, and implementing accessibility in art and culture. The five events are based on the five categories of the kubia accessibility approach: movement, hearing, seeing, feeling, and understanding.
Become a cultural guide
Would you like to become a cultural guide? Or would you, as a cultural venue, like to work with a cultural guide? Are you looking for someone to visit a cultural venue or cultural event with you? Then let our idea of cultural accompaniment inspire you to implement this model in your area. We've compiled a wealth of information for you.
A barrier-free museum trip
The accessible museum tour is the result of two collaborative events organized by the Olpe District Museums Association, the LWL Museum Office for Westphalia, and the South Westphalia Cultural Region. Employees from museums, social institutions, and people with disabilities participated in the workshops. The results are presented as travel stations and are available to everyone as a PDF file.
Query Accessible Cultural Institutions
We would like to collect and present accessible and low-barrier offerings and measures in cultural institutions in the South Westphalia cultural region. If you would like to participate, you can download the survey here.
Inclusion in the network distribution list
If you would like to be included in the information and network mailing list for a culture of diversity in the South Westphalia cultural region, please send us an email with the keyword: Netzwerk Vielfalt to: orga@kulturregion-swf.de
NOW EVERYONE - Starting signal for a culture of diversity
NOW EVERYONE - the experimental real-world laboratory for a culture of diversity - and the human reactions that have emerged
The Bethel Theater Workshop, the Südwestfalen Agentur, and the Südwestfalen Cultural Region have invited participants to an experimental real-world laboratory for a culture of diversity at the Lyz Cultural Center in Siegen on September 9, 2022. The "JETZT ALLE" real-world laboratory marked the launch of our project to strengthen the culture of diversity in the Südwestfalen Cultural Region. You can find the written documentation of the real-world laboratory here. A film report, a short audio piece, and a photo impression reflect the atmosphere of the event.
The documentation
In this documentation, we have compiled the artistic methods used in the real-world lab, as well as the ideas and approaches developed for a culture of diversity. You will also find a wide range of additional information, tips, and links in the documentation. You can download the documentation here as a PDF.
The film contribution
Our 10-minute film and short audio piece about our real-world lab provide a visual and audible impression of the tremendous creative power and joy of diversity! The film is subtitled. Both the film and audio piece reflect the same content, but adapted to the respective sensory perception.
The radio play
Good examples of inclusive projects and cultural institutions in the region
Here, we present good examples of cultural projects and cultural institutions in the region that have specifically implemented concrete, inclusive measures to reduce barriers and promote a diverse cultural society. Some projects and organizations are also established at a national or national level, and providers from the region can then participate or are already involved. We welcome further suggestions!
Wheelmap.pro Olpe District
Dark Cafe Siegen
Cultural Workshop Old School Lüdenscheid
The Integrative Cultural Workshop Alte Schule Lüdenscheid is available to the Evangelische Johanneswerk (Evangelical Johannes Work) as a cultural center within the Johannes-Busch residential complex. A wide range of cultural activities are offered here under the motto "Culture as a Means of Inclusion."
Platform 42
CULTURE:live AWO Siegen
Festival KulturPur
The organizers of the international music and theater festival KulturPur have implemented several measures and offerings to make the festival accessible. Furthermore, KulturPur is also labeled a green festival.
Culture made audible
Christopher Street Day
Plattform Pinc Music
People with disabilities in the region talk about their everyday lives and what art has to do with their lives, as well as their cultural work. People who are often under-heard are offered a platform to be recognized by a wider audience. A production of the integrative cultural workshop Alte Schule Lüdenscheid.
The podcast can be heard here on Spotify.
Tips and advice for accessible cultural work
We've compiled a small selection of guidelines for inclusive cultural events. These guidelines and guides also provide further information on accessible websites, documents, and communication.
Starter set: Diversity in committee work
At its 2023 conference, the South Westphalia Cultural Council worked with experts to develop strategies and measures for a more diverse composition of committees. The results resulted in a guide on how to achieve more diverse participation and involvement in committees. The "Diversity Starter Set - Lowering Barriers to Cultural Participation and Co-Determination in Committee Work" is available as a PDF download.
Guide to talking to each other
Communication as participation! As part of its 2024 conference, members of the South Westphalia Cultural Council and guests discussed how participation processes could be successfully communicated to everyone. The results have been compiled as a "Handbook for Communicating with One Another" and are available here as a PDF download.
Process model for barrier-free culture
The documentation was created as part of the "Culture Without Barriers" project, which kubia implemented in Poland as a transnational partner and consultant. It contains the insights gained by the cultural institutions from testing the model and is available for download as a PDF brochure.
Guide for sustainable and inclusive cultural events
As part of our NOW ALL real-world lab, we've created a guide for planning inclusive and sustainable events. It includes additional information and links. Download the guide as a PDF.
Accessibility Guide to the Competence Centers for Independent Living
The guide provides an overview of accessible buildings, public transport, committees, media, travel, advice, and education. The guide is available as an accessible PDF on the Competence Centers website (external).
Guide for accessible cultural events on the Pinc Music platform
This comprehensive guide on the Pinc Music platform for inclusive music shows solutions to make concerts and other cultural events more inclusive.
To the online guide (external)
Creability practical handbook for planning and implementation
The handbook contains 31 practical creative and artistic tools for making arts and cultural work inclusive. The handbook is available as a PDF download (external).
Checklist for planning accessible events
The Federal Office for Accessibility's checklist provides suggestions and tips on what you should consider when organizing your event. The checklist is available as a PDF download (external).
Guide to sustainable cultural events
On our cultural region website, we have compiled many guides for organizing ecologically sustainable and climate-neutral events.
To the collection Guide to sustainable events
Designing barrier-free cultural projects
In collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Science, Kubia has developed a toolkit for project sponsors. This toolkit can be found here on our website.
Collection of materials on inclusive cultural work
You can find even more materials on the topic of inclusive cultural work on the website of Culture and Education in Older People and Inclusive Culture (Kubia for short). Click here for the collection of materials (external)
Diversity. Culture in Motion
This publication by the Regional Association of Westphalia-Lippe and the Cultural Policy Society eV highlights needs, action strategies, and solutions for implementing diversity in the cultural sector. To the publication (external)
Make cultural funding fair
The guideline "Shaping Equality: Equal Opportunities and Educational Equity for Cultural Actors and Users with Disabilities in and Through Cultural Funding Measures" is the result of the consistently participatory project United Inclusion. The guideline can be downloaded here (external).
Funding Handbook for Diversity
At the suggestion of the Diversity Round Table at the Cultural Council of North Rhine-Westphalia, the Cultural Council has compiled an online overview of diversity-related funding opportunities.
Handbook: Inclusive and Accessible Cultural Work
With this handbook, the Service Center for Inclusion in the Cultural Sector aims to provide cultural actors from all sectors with a practical tool that will help them work more inclusively, step by step. The handbook is available for free download in various versions.
Information and contact points
Barrier-Free Agency NRW
The Barrier-Free NRW Agency provides information on a range of accessibility issues. You'll find concrete implementation examples, checklists for an overview, and further information on technical details and legal backgrounds. The Barrier-Free NRW Agency also offers advice on implementing accessibility.
To the NRW Accessibility Agency (external)
Competence Centers for Independent Living NRW
The five Competence Centers for Independent Living advise individuals, associations, and organizations and provide accessible information materials. The KSL's primary goal is to strengthen the participation of people with disabilities and, for example, to support self-help and political advocacy groups. Each KSL employs six to seven people. At least half of them have a disability themselves. The staff members generally have a pedagogical, legal, or social science background. The KSL for the Arnsberg administrative district is located in Dortmund.
To the KSL website and to the KSL Arnsberg (external)
Explanatory and learning videos about accessibility are available on the KSL's own YouTube channel.
To the KSL YouTube channel (external)
kubia – Competence Center for Cultural Education in Older People and Inclusive Culture
As a specialist forum and service platform, kubia provides information on the key topics of cultural geragogy, cultural education in old age, inclusive cultural work, promoting intergenerational dialogue, art and culture in care and dementia, strengthening cultural engagement, cultural participation of older migrants, international trends and research, as well as the senior citizens' theater scene in North Rhine-Westphalia.
To kubia (external)
kubia also offers a broad-based qualification program on accessibility/inclusion/diversity in culture.
To the qualification program (external)
Un-Label
Un-Label e.V., based in Cologne, stands for artistic innovation (renewal) and diversity. Un-label ev. advocates for greater inclusion and diversity in the performing arts. Its goal is equal accessibility for people with disabilities: as artists, employees, and audiences. Un-Label e.V. develops its own productions, advises and supports institutions and the independent arts community, networks with national and international stakeholders, and engages in political work.
About the Un-Label Association
Federal Association for Cultural Participation
The Federal Association for Cultural Participation advocates for the human right to cultural participation. It advocates for the societal and political recognition of culture as an important means of improving the quality of life, alleviating loneliness and isolation, reducing financial and other barriers, and promoting health. The goal of this commitment is to encourage and empower all people to participate in social life and democratic discourse.
To the Federal Association (external) and to the Regional Group NRW
Promoting cultural participation through Aktion Mensch
Aktion Mensch not only offers a wealth of information on accessibility, but also financially supports inclusive projects in which people with and without disabilities can contribute creatively with their own ideas and wishes. The focus is on participation and accessibility. More information on funding (external)
Municipal Integration Centers NRW
The Municipal Integration Centres implement their work within the two pillars of "Integration through Education" and "Integration as a Cross-Sectoral Task". The tasks of the Municipal Integration Centres include, for example,
Development of integration policy action plans, educational partnerships between daycare centers, schools and parents, and the intercultural profiling of cultural institutions.
To the municipal integration centers NRW (external)
Integration agencies NRW
The integration agencies operate according to four key areas: civic engagement by and for people with a migration background, intercultural openness, social space-oriented work, and anti-discrimination work. There are now 214 integration agencies with approximately 290 integration specialists. The integration agencies also include 42 service centers for anti-discrimination work. The agencies are supported by the umbrella organizations of the voluntary welfare sector in North Rhine-Westphalia.
To the integration agencies.
State Integration Council NRW
The North Rhine-Westphalia State Integration Council is the democratically legitimized representative body of the integration councils in North Rhine-Westphalia. The North Rhine-Westphalia State Integration Council advocates for the cultural, social, legal, and political equality of migrants whose main residence is in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. To the North Rhine-Westphalia State Integration Council (external)
FUMA Gender & Diversity Office NRW
The FUMA Gender and Diversity NRW Office is a training and counseling center in the field of child and youth welfare. FUMA website.
Queer Network NRW
The Queer Network NRW is a statewide professional association for organizations of the LGBTIQ community. The network connects, advises, and strengthens services in the areas of self-help, empowerment, anti-discrimination work, and many other fields, and engages in lobbying for sexual and gender diversity. Funding from the Ministry for Children, Family, Refugees and Integration of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia for LGBTIQ projects in North Rhine-Westphalia is managed and advised through this network. To the Queer Network NRW (external)
Charter of Diversity
The Diversity Charter is an employer initiative to promote diversity in companies and institutions. The initiative aims to advance the recognition, appreciation, and inclusion of diversity in the German workplace. Organizations should create a work environment free of prejudice. Many companies and public institutions already practice diversity management. A database presents good examples. Unfortunately, our region still has a gap in this area, including in the area of culture. So, there's still work to be done! Diversity activities can be registered on the Charter website (external link).
Participation in culture is a human right - framework for diversity
Dictionaries on diversity
Who or what is meant by LGBTIAQ*? What does Aesthetics of Access mean?
We have compiled some dictionaries on diversity and inclusion for you here.
The following list contains links to external sites.
- Dictionary of Diversity Arts Culture, a conception and advisory center for diversity development in the cultural sector
- Glossary of the Rainbow Portal, the Federal Government’s information pool on same-sex lifestyles and gender diversity.
- Glossary of the Queer Lexicon of the association Queer Lexikon eV
- Glossary of the Service Center for Inclusion in the Cultural Sector of the State Association for Socioculture in Saxony.
- Glossary for cultural project sponsors who have applied for barrier-free measures as part of state funding. Compiled by kubia – the Competence Center for Cultural Education for Seniors and Inclusive Culture (PDF file).
15 theses on cultural integration and cohesion
The following 15 theses form the foundation for the further work of the Cultural Integration Initiative
The Cultural Integration Initiative has developed 15 theses on "Cohesion in Diversity." The members of the Cultural Integration Initiative, who come from various social backgrounds, have repeatedly emphasized the importance of cultural integration to strengthen cohesion in diversity. They speak out clearly against division and hate speech and unequivocally oppose anti-Semitism, racism, and group-based misanthropy.
The 15 theses provide a good basis for the approach to one's own cultural work.
United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states: "Everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, to enjoy the arts and to share in scientific advancement and its benefits." Detailed explanation of the right to cultural participation (external)
UNESCO Commission on Cultural Diversity:
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, Cultural and Communication Organization, adopted a convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions in 2005, “affirming that cultural diversity is a distinct characteristic of humanity” and further: “aware that cultural diversity creates a rich and diverse world, thereby increasing choices and enriching human capacities and values.”
Download the PDF of the Convention (external)
German UNESCO Commission for Cultural Diversity in Germany
Protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions is a foundation of the cultural policy of the federal, state, and local governments in Germany. They are structurally embedded in the German cultural funding system and promote the participation of civil society actors at all levels.
Declaration on cultural diversity in Germany (external)
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on participation in cultural life
In Article 30 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on participation in cultural life, recreation, leisure, and sport, the states parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to participate in cultural life on an equal basis with others. Appropriate measures should be taken to "enable persons with disabilities to develop and utilize their creative, artistic, and intellectual potential."
Detailed explanation of Article 30 (external)
Action Plan “NRW Inclusive”
In accordance with the participation requirement enshrined in Section 9 of the North Rhine-Westphalia Inclusion Principles Act, the Action Plan for North Rhine-Westphalia was developed as part of a broad participation process. All state government departments, including the cultural sector, contributed measures to further improve the participation of people with disabilities.
Information and documents on the NRW Action Plan (external)
Section 10 of the Cultural Code for the State of North Rhine-Westphalia
Access, participation and diversity
- Unhindered and barrier-free access to art and culture is under the special protection of the state, municipalities, and municipal associations. The unifying goal is to ensure access and equal opportunities for everyone in the perception and creation of art and culture, thus doing justice to the diversity of society in cultural life. The state's inclusive cultural funding aims to enable people with disabilities barrier-free access to art and culture and to give greater expression to the living environments and situations of people with disabilities as a distinct aspect of cultural life and artistic creation.
- Gender equality and diversity must be taken into account in the state's arts and culture funding. This also applies to the composition of committees and juries, the performance of leadership roles, and the support and visibility of diverse artistic perspectives.
To the NRW Cultural Code (external)