Cultural guide
Cultural participation is cultural enjoyment for everyone!
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The idea of a cultural accompaniment is aimed at anyone interested in enjoying culture as a couple or with others! Because shared cultural enjoyment tastes twice as good!
Page content:
- What are cultural companions
- What is meant by cultural enjoyment
- Role of cultural guide - cultural venue - cultural guest
- Cultural guides introduce themselves
- Contact for inquiries
What are cultural companions?
The cultural companions enable cultural guests to participate in cultural activities: They visit cultural institutions, cultural events or other cultural offerings together with people who, for various reasons, cannot or do not want to participate in cultural events alone.
Reasons why someone cannot attend a cultural event or visit a cultural venue can include:
- Mobility restrictions, e.g. due to sensory impairment, a physical disability or age-related movement restrictions
- mental illnesses, dementia, anxiety
- Neurodivergenz
- Learning difficulties, special learning opportunities,
- general uncertainties when visiting cultural sites
- language barriers
- financial, social or cultural disadvantage
- or other support needs
Important note! All participants should note: Cultural accompaniment is not a form of care or nursing. It is a supportive, equal-level companion within a team united by shared cultural interests.
What is meant by cultural enjoyment?
The shared enjoyment of culture is very broadly defined and can, for example, refer to:
- Visit a cultural venue: a gallery, a museum, or a cinema…
- Attending a cultural event: a concert, a poetry slam, a reading, a theater performance, an exhibition…
- Participation in cultural activities such as art classes, choir rehearsals, or theater workshops…
- Cultural participation can also mean actively shaping cultural work. This can include joint participation in committees, boards, citizens' councils, cultural development planning, or panel discussions.
Cultural guide – cultural guest – cultural venue: Who takes on which role?
The cultural guides, the cultural guests, and the cultural venues each assume a specific role in this model. Ideally, the three parties are in contact with each other, exchange ideas, and coordinate their needs and opportunities. The goal is for everyone to enjoy culture without worry, regret, or stomach aches.
The cultural guides
Cultural escorts provide support in preparing for a cultural visit, accompany participants to the event or cultural venue, and assist in overcoming any obstacles during the cultural visit. A cultural escort can be a volunteer, employed by a cultural venue or social organization, work as a leisure or daily assistance worker, or even be freelance.
The cultural venue
A cultural venue can be a cultural institution, a cultural association, a cultural event, or another cultural event. The cultural venue offers appropriate visitor services. In addition, the cultural venue's service staff inform visitors about what is and isn't accessible, what opportunities for participation and involvement exist, and create incentives for a visit.
The cultural guests
Cultural guests are those visitors who come to a cultural venue with a cultural escort. As a cultural guest, you specifically state your cultural interests and clarify your need for support.
In-depth information for cultural guides, cultural guests or cultural venues
Information for
- Cultural guides
- Cultural guests
- Role of cultural guide - cultural venue - cultural guest
Information for cultural guides
Do you enjoy going to the cinema or a concert, visiting exhibitions or the theatre and would you like to take someone with you who would find it difficult or even impossible to enjoy culture due to physical, mental or intellectual disabilities or social, linguistic or cultural barriers?
Then the role of cultural escort might be just right for you. We'll give you a brief overview of the requirements here.
What professional skills are required?
- Professional training is not necessary. What's required is that you're culturally interested, have a good degree of empathy and tact, and are sensitive, friendly, and approachable.
- Only in isolated cases might specialist or basic pedagogical knowledge be useful or even necessary. For example, in the case of people with dementia—depending on the severity—or with certain mental illnesses.
- Are you already a recreational or social worker? Then combine your professional expertise with your cultural interests.
- Remember that you are not a nursing assistant, but rather someone who wants to enjoy culture together with another person.
- What tasks do cultural escorts have or can they have?
- You plan and organize visits to the theater, concerts, museums, events, etc. and find out in advance about the accessibility of the place, possible triggers, hurdles or other difficulties.
- You may want to contact the cultural venue beforehand and ask specifically what needs to be taken into account and where problems might arise.
- If necessary, organize the tickets or assist in purchasing them.
- If necessary, you pick up the cultural guests from their homes or the facility and accompany them back. In other words, you take the cultural guests with you.
- They are the helping and supporting hand: when boarding and disembarking, when entering and leaving the cultural venue, they take care of the cloakroom, show the way to the toilets, are a communication partner during breaks and are the contact person throughout the entire stay.
- They provide guidance without being patronizing.
In short, you ensure barrier-free access to the cultural venue or cultural offerings. This allows you and others to enjoy cultural experiences together.
The "good tone" for cultural guides
- Inclusion covers a wide field and does not only refer to people with a (specific) disability.
- Consider self-empowerment and self-determination. Don't patronize. Instead, ask the question: "Do you need help?" or: "Let me know if you need help."
- “Being human” and empathy, understanding, compassion (not pity) are the most important criteria for the task.
- Mutual understanding: Where are each other's boundaries? Clearly communicate what's acceptable and what's not. On both sides!
- Also clearly state what support and information you need as a cultural facilitator in order to reduce your own insecurities and act according to needs.
- People are not disabled; disabilities arise from circumstances. Barriers can also arise from different needs, and barriers can be anything (e.g., even language).
- Provide orientation. For example, if you're traveling with a blind cultural guest, explain what you're doing and where you're standing.
- There are also people who don't always want to be touched! Clarify physical contact.
- Clarify in advance: What culture connects us? Do we share a common culture? Because the goal is to enjoy culture together.
- Listen, don’t interpret too much into what is said.
- A holistic approach, keeping in mind the socialization of people.
- Extreme range in the perception and designation of disability. Better: people with disabilities (not disabled people), people with special learning abilities (instead of "mentally disabled")
- There are visible and invisible disabilities (e.g. neurodiversity)
- Look at individual needs, talk about the needs and ask questions during the preparation phase: what is feasible and how can it be done?
- Always ask yourself the question: why am I doing this?
Information box
- In our separate info box for cultural guides you will find further helpful information on financing, accessibility and liability (external link).
- Be sure to also learn about the role of cultural guests. You'll also find information on funding opportunities there.
Information for cultural venues
Are you interested in the cultural facilitator model and would like to work with cultural facilitators? Would you also like to provide access to people who find it difficult to visit a cultural venue or event?
We have compiled some key data and further information on the role and tasks a cultural venue should take on in the cultural accompaniment concept.
What you can do as service personnel, employees, or service providers of a cultural venue to offer everyone a wonderful cultural experience:
- Ideally, you will work with social service providers and people from a diverse society as experts in the development of cultural programs and/or the design of your cultural venue.
- They ensure accessible or low-barrier infrastructure on site. Accessibility means that access is difficult or impossible for people who have physical, mental, or intellectual disabilities, or social, linguistic, or cultural barriers.
- Do you communicate openly and transparently: what is accessible along your service chain, and what is not? You can use the Kubia Accessibility Model as a guide. You can download this model below in this section.
- You present your offers in an accessible and understandable way for everyone, also in simple or easy language, as an audio flyer or as a video.
- It's important to ensure the flow of information regarding participation opportunities and accessibility within your organization. Staff, especially service personnel, should have access to all information and the necessary knowledge regarding accessibility.
- Both cultural guides and cultural guests need reliable contacts for questions about accessibility, the offerings and the general conditions on site.
- In addition to the discounts that cultural venues offer for people with disabilities, senior citizens, etc., it would be nice if cultural companions received a free accompanying ticket as an appreciation of their commitment.
- You may have established your own pool of cultural escorts. Cultural escorts can bring cultural guests to the cultural venue. They can also welcome cultural guests directly at a cultural venue and personally accompany them through the exhibition, to their seats, etc., and provide support during the event.
- If you, as a cultural venue, employ volunteer cultural guides, please remember the contractual arrangements so that the cultural guides are insured and protected in the event of an accident or damage to property.
- However, it is also possible to agree on a fee or expense allowance with cultural guides, such as museum or tourist guides.
A cultural venue should be a protected space. Enable your guests to enjoy culture in a carefree and barrier-free manner.
Information box
- A party for everyone: Kubia's process model for structured analysis, planning, and implementation of accessibility in art and culture. Download the PDF.
- We also provide you with a query on accessibility in cultural institutions (Word document).
- Be sure to also find out about the role of cultural guests and cultural guides as your cooperation partners.
Information for cultural guests
Do you enjoy going to the theater or the cinema? Would you like to visit a museum or an interesting local attraction?
Are you looking for someone to accompany you to a cultural event? Then cultural escorting might be something for you.
We inform you here about the possibilities of cultural accompaniment.
Your questions and our answers
How do I contact a cultural guide?
- You can contact a cultural escort directly if they offer their services via a website, an advertisement or a database.
- Some cultural venues offer this service directly or have a pool of cultural guides. In these cases, the cultural guides are usually tied to the cultural institution. Please inquire at the cultural venue you would like to visit.
- There are associations and organizations that maintain a pool of cultural escorts and provide them. You can then request a cultural escort directly through these organizations and/or submit a request yourself. There are currently no providers in the South Westphalia cultural region; the model is still under development.
- A leisure assistant or everyday assistant can also provide cultural accompaniment. You can clarify this with your assistant or with the social institution or service provider you are in contact with.
The chemistry should be right! Be honest with each other, discuss problems, and if in doubt, separate. After all, you want to have a great cultural experience together!
How do I pay for a cultural accompaniment?
- Some cultural guides work on a voluntary basis and do not charge any money for their work.
- Some cultural venues that offer cultural accompaniment cover the costs accordingly. Please inquire about this.
- Everyday assistance, leisure assistance or cultural accompaniment can be requested or commissioned through social providers.
- Cultural accompaniment, like everyday or leisure assistance for people with disabilities, can also be billed through your personal budget. Information about your personal budget is provided in the information box below.
- Cultural accompaniments can of course also be paid for directly by you or through a third party.
- Almost all cultural venues offer discounts for people with disabilities, senior citizens, families, recipients of social assistance or unemployment benefits, or holders of a social pass. Ideally, cultural companions receive a free accompanying ticket for the cultural event or free admission to the cultural venue they are visiting together.
Which cultural event or cultural venue can I choose?
There are several options, such as:
- You already know which cultural venue or cultural event you would like to visit. So, you specify exactly which cultural event or cultural venue you are looking for a cultural escort for.
- You have specific preferences, such as theater, music, or museums. You discuss with your cultural guide which events or cultural venues you would like to visit together.
- You are unsure and seek advice from a culturally knowledgeable cultural guide.
Please speak to your cultural advisor if you need support!
Do you rely on cultural events or cultural venues being truly accessible for you? Or do you need very specific support measures? Perhaps certain topics are only accessible to you with assistance, such as translation or easy or simple language. Perhaps certain topics trigger anxiety in you. Then talk openly about them with your cultural guide or the staff at the cultural venue so that suitable offerings can be identified and/or appropriate support can be provided.
Information box
- Information from the Competence Centers for Self-Determined Living NRW on personal budgets (PDF)
- You can also get advice directly from the Competence Centers for Self-Determined Living.
- Be sure to seek advice about your personal budget from the EUTB (Supplementary Independent Participation Counseling) office in your region or community. You can find local contacts here.
Cultural guides introduce themselves
Cultural facilitators and networks for cultural participation present themselves here.
Please contact us directly.
We provide the service, but are not responsible for the individual cultural guides.
If you would like to present yourself as a cultural guide, please contact: servicebuero@kulturregion-swf.de
The database is still under construction!
Crauss
Crauss is a writer and cultural educator with experience in vocational reintegration and youth work.
Accompanied in: Siegen, Siegerland and Wittgenstein. Accompaniments are possible to: gallery and museum visits, concert visits (any genre), city tours and visits to public institutions and/or architecture.
Fee: The cultural accompaniment is carried out on a freelance basis and subject to a tiered fee (comparable to an hourly work by a craftsman).
Contact: Email workshop@crauss.de, Phone 0163 6862877
CULTURE:live Siegen
Culture for everyone! Many people can no longer afford culture. "Kultur:Live," run by the AWO Workers' Welfare Association Siegen-Wittgenstein/Olpe, together with a support network, enables people with little or no income to participate in culture free of charge. Cultural guests can register directly with the Kultur:Live team by presenting proof of income and then receive free tickets to the cinema, theater, concert, or museum. This offer applies to the Siegen-Wittgenstein and Olpe districts.
Crauss
Crauss is a writer and cultural educator with experience in vocational reintegration and youth work.
Accompanied in: Siegen, Siegerland and Wittgenstein. Accompaniments are possible to: gallery and museum visits, concert visits (any genre), city tours and visits to public institutions and/or architecture.
Fee: The cultural accompaniment is carried out on a freelance basis and subject to a tiered fee (comparable to an hourly work by a craftsman).
Contact: Email workshop@crauss.de, Phone 0163 6862877
Verena Jacquorie
Verena Jacquorie is a written interpreter and day-to-day companion. She speaks English, French, and Spanish due to her previous career as a foreign language executive assistant.
Accompanied in: the Sauerland region around Sundern, Arnsberg, Meschede, Eslohe, Plettenberg, and Balve. Also available in the Ruhr area upon request.
Fee: cultural accompaniment is provided on a freelance basis (comparable to the commissioning of a written interpreter)
Contact: Email begleitung@verena-jacquorie.de
It can only be achieved together: The key data for the guideline were developed in 2024 together with experts from the cultural and social sectors, prospective cultural facilitators and employees of the KSL competence centers for self-determined living in North Rhine-Westphalia and the Kultur:live project of the Workers' Welfare Association-AWO Siegen-Wittgenstein in the Dunkelcafe Siegen.
Contact for inquiries
Cultural Region of South Westphalia - Service Office
c/o FD 40 Culture and Tourism of the Märkischer Kreis
Contact person: Susanne Boecking
Bismarckstrasse 15, 58762 Altena
Tel: 02352 966-70 66, Email: servicebuero@kulturregion-swf.de
Funded through the supplementary accessibility funds of the RKP Regional Culture Program NRW.