Zwei Frauen sitzen nebeneinander im Theater. Sie lachen in die Handykamera, die eine der beiden Frauen in der Hand hält. Eine der beiden Frauen sitzt im Rollstuhl.


Cultural Companion

Cultural participation is cultural enjoyment for everyone!

Symbol für Leichte Sprache. Zeichnung: Mensch liest ein Buch und zeigt Daumen hoch.

Information in easy language

Page content:

  • What are cultural companions
  • What is meant by cultural enjoyment
  • What are: Cultural Companions - Cultural Venue - Cultural Guests
  • Information for cultural guests
  • Contact for inquiries

Cultural companion: shared cultural enjoyment

Do you enjoy going to the theater or the cinema? Would you like to visit a museum again? Or would you like to visit interesting sights in your area?

Would you like someone to accompany you to a cultural event? Then a cultural escort might be the right choice for you. We'll provide you with information about cultural escorts here.

The idea of cultural accompaniment is for everyone.

Cultural enjoyment means: You can enjoy culture as a couple or with more people. No one is excluded. A more detailed explanation can be found here: Link to Cultural Enjoyment

What are cultural companions?

Cultural guides support cultural guests. That means you.

These cultural guests cannot attend an event alone for various reasons.

If these people want to visit a cultural venue or event:

Farbige Zeichnung zweier Menschen, die Frau stützt sich auf einen Stock und hakt sich bei einem Mann unter.

Cultural companions then support these people. A cultural venue is, for example, a museum.

Cultural events include, for example, a theater play or a musical.

Zeichung, die einen Ausstellungsraum darstellt: ein Bild mit bunten Hochhäusern hängt an der Wand, daneben steht auf einem Socken eine Figur der Künstlerin Nana. Rechts neben dem Bild steht eine flache Vitrine.

This is why people cannot attend cultural events alone:

  • People with limited mobility.
  • For example, due to a sensory impairment. This is, for example, a visual impairment.
  • Or a physical limitation.
  • Or because of age.
Farbige Zeichung eines blinden Menschens mit dunkler Brille und Taststock.
  • People with mental illness, anxiety, or dementia. Dementia means that the brain no longer functions as well. People then forget a lot, often forever.
  • People who have a different perception. For example, autistic people or people with ADHD. There are many different types of autism. In some people, it's barely noticeable. Others have severe intellectual disabilities. For example, autistic people have difficulty expressing emotions or communicating with others. People with mental illnesses, anxiety, or dementia. Dementia means: The brain no longer functions as well. People then forget a lot, often forever. ADHD is a disease. People with ADHD, for example, have difficulty concentrating.
  • People with learning difficulties.
  • People who are insecure. These people don't know how to behave in a cultural venue.
  • People who cannot speak or read well.
Zeichnung eines Menschen, der Angst hat.
  • People with little money. Or children who come from poor families, for example. Or people without a good education.
  • People who need support for another reason.


Farbige Zeichnung einer flachen Hand, die Geld hält.

What is meant by cultural enjoyment?

Or with cultural participation?

Enjoying culture together can be very rewarding. Here are some examples:

  • Visiting a cultural venue. These include, for example:
  • a gallery
  • a museum
  • a cinema
Farbige Zeichnung einer einer Kinoleinwand mit roten Sitzreihen davor.
  • Attending a cultural event. These include, for example:
  • a concert
  • a reading
  • a theater performance
Farbige Zeichnung einer Musikband. Vier Musiker, einer mit Gitarre, eine an der Trommel, einer am Keyboard und eine Sängerin.
  • Participation in cultural activities. These include:
  • Art courses
  • Choir rehearsals
  • Theater-Workshops
Farbige Zeichnung eines Chores, also sieben Menschen, die Notenblätter in der Hand halten und singen.

All of this is cultural participation.

  • Cultural participation can also be, for example:
  • Participate in citizens' councils. Citizens' councils are made up of various citizens. They discuss a political issue and then make suggestions to politicians.
  • Participate in committees. A committee is a group of experts who are particularly knowledgeable about a particular topic, such as culture.

Cultural guide - Cultural venue - Cultural guests

Cultural guides, cultural guests, and cultural venues all take on specific roles. Ideally, all three are in contact with each other. They talk to each other. The cultural event should be a great experience. Therefore, everyone looks at it together: What do we need for it? What do we already have?

Drei Menschen sitzen um einen Tisch herum und unterhalten sich.

All three groups should note this:

Watch together:

  • What barriers are there?
  • How can we work together to break down these barriers? Or make them less difficult?
Eine Frau spricht, in der Sprechblase ist ein Fragezeichen.

Everyone involved should also note this:

Cultural companions are not caregivers or nursing professionals. A cultural companion supports people with cultural activities. Everyone on this team has equal rights.

Ein rot umrahmtes Dreieck, darin eine Frau, die einen Zeigefinger hebt und so um Aufmerksamkeit bittet.

Cultural Companion

If people want to visit a cultural event or cultural venue, cultural guides can support them. For example, if there are barriers, a cultural guide can:

  • Be a volunteer. Then he doesn't take any money for his work.
  • Be employed by a cultural institution or social organization. An example of a social organization is the German Red Cross.
  • Work as a leisure assistant or as an everyday assistant.
  • Or work as a freelancer. Freelance means you're not employed by someone. You work for yourself.
Farbige Zeichnung: eine Frau schiebt einen Mann im Rollstuhl. Der Mann gibt mit einem Fingerzeig die Richtung an.

The cultural venue

A cultural place can be:

  • a cultural institution
  • a cultural association
  • another cultural event

There is a visitor service at the cultural venue. The service staff there provide information about:

  • What is accessible on site? And what isn't?
  • Where can you participate?

The visitor service also promotes visits to the cultural venue. Why is it worth visiting?

Farbige Zeichnung einer Bühnenszene mit Stühlen davor. Auf der Bühne stehen ein Tisch und davor ein Stuhl.

The cultural guests

Cultural guests visit a cultural venue together with their cultural guides. Cultural guests are also called cultural visitors. Cultural guests should know:

  • This area of culture interests me.
  • I need this kind of support.

When the cultural guides come to a cultural venue, they are of course also guests.

Farbige Zeichnung zweier Menschen, die Frau stützt sich auf einen Stock und hakt sich bei einem Mann unter.

Information for cultural guests

Your questions and our answers

How do I find a cultural guide?

  • If a cultural guide has their own website or an advertisement in the newspaper, you can contact them directly.
  • Some cultural venues have their own cultural guides. These guides are then part of that cultural venue. If you want to go to a different cultural venue, you will probably have to find another cultural guide. Ask at the cultural venue.
Zeichnung einer zugeklappten Zeitung.
  • There are associations and organizations with their own cultural guides. You can inquire directly with them. You can also add your name to a list. The list states: "You are looking for a cultural guide." There are currently no cultural guide providers in the South Westphalia region. This service is new and needs to be developed.
  • Leisure assistants or everyday assistants can also be cultural companions. You must discuss this with your assistant, or with the social institution or service provider. They organize the assistance.
Blatt mit Nummerierung. Erstens, zweitens, drittens

Very important:

You and your cultural guide should like each other. Be honest with each other. Discuss any problems. If necessary, separate. After all, you want to have a wonderful cultural experience together.

Zwischen Menschen stehen nebeneinander und umarmen sich an den Schultern.

How do I pay the cultural guide?

  • Some cultural guides work on a voluntary basis. They do not accept payment for their work.
  • Some cultural venues pay their cultural guides themselves. Please inquire there.
  • You can also get leisure assistants or everyday assistants through social organizations. These can also be cultural companions. One social organization is the German Red Cross.
Aufschrift Amt. Der Mensch hat viele Gedankenblasen: Essen, Wohnung, Haus. Aus dem Haus kommt Geld zu dem Menschen hin.
  • If you have a disability: You can pay for cultural companions with your personal budget. What the personal budget is: You can find out more here: Link to PDF. You can also seek advice from a Supplementary Independent Participation Advisor. The abbreviation is EUTB. You can find more information here: Link to EUTB. You can also pay for leisure assistants or everyday assistants with your personal budget.
  • You can also pay for cultural guides directly yourself or have someone else pay for you.
Eine Hand hält einen 5 Euro Geldschein.

At almost all cultural venues there are discounts for:

  • People with disabilities
  • old people
  • The family
  • Unemployed or Citizens' Allowance recipients
  • People with a social pass

Cultural companions can get a free accompanying ticket at many locations. The ticket is for a cultural venue or a cultural event.

Eine ältere Dame in Hauspantoffeln und grauen Haaren.

Which cultural event is right for me? Or which cultural venue?

There are several ways to do this. For example:

  • You've already found an interesting cultural venue or an interesting cultural event. Then say: I'd like to visit this cultural venue or event. For that, I need a cultural guide.
  • You particularly like certain cultural offerings. For example:
  • Theater
  • Music
  • a visit to the museum

Discuss with your cultural guide: I would like to visit this cultural event or this cultural venue.

  • Perhaps you're unsure. You don't know which cultural offerings are right for you? Consult a cultural advisor. Cultural advisors are often knowledgeable about culture.
Ein Mensch macht eine Geste mit hochgezogenen Schultern: ich weiß nicht.

Do you need support? Please let us know

Cultural events or cultural venues must be accessible. Do you depend on this? Do you need specific support?

Mensch im Rollstuhl fährt eine Rampe hoch.

Perhaps you also need easy or simple language? Perhaps certain topics intimidate you? Then talk openly about it with your cultural guide or with the service staff at the cultural venue. They can then find the right cultural offering for you or provide appropriate assistance.

Symbol für Leichte Sprache. Zeichnung: Mensch liest ein Buch und zeigt Daumen hoch.

The text is written only in male language.

This will help you read the text better.

We don't want to hurt anyone with this language.

All people are equally important to us.

© European logo for easy reading: Inclusion Europe. Further information at www.leicht-lesbar.eu. Images: © Lebenshilfe für Menschen mit geistiger Behinderung Bremen eV, Illustrator Stefan Albers, Atelier Fleetinsel, 2013; Translation by: Tobias Berger; Date: January 2025; Reviewed by Lisa Scholz, Niels-Ole Dresselhaus, and Enes Karabulut at the Bethel Easy Language Office: www.leichtesprache-bethel.de

Buchstabe I für Information

More detailed information for cultural guides and cultural venues can be found here on a separate page in normal language.

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 Regional Culture Program NRW.