Cultural education initiative “Kultur:Bildung” starts with 1 million euros
The school year 2021/22 also sees the launch of the new initiative “Kultur:Bildung” (“Culture:Education”). It is the most comprehensive cultural education programme with schools in the whole of Austria. Particular emphasis is placed on acquiring key skills through cultural education processes. A total of 1 million euros is available for the current school year. The initiative was developed by the OeAD, which as national education agency is also responsible for its implementation. The initiative is financed by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research.
“The new initiative is open to all schools with public status in Austria,” emphasises the minister of education, Heinz Faßmann. “During the whole the school year teachers in all subjects can enrich their lessons and create innovative impulses with cultural education projects and workshops.”
Within the framework of project-oriented education pupils of all ages will work together with artists from all kinds of disciplines – dance, theatre, music, literature, fine arts, film, video, media art, photography, and design and architecture: in a stimulating and participatory way, both analogue and digital.
In the school year 2021/22 the initiative will focus on the topic of “More than Bytes – Cultural Education and Digital Media”. The acquisition of (digital) media skills by the pupils thus becomes a stronger focus, also in connection with the 8-point plan for digital education. Moreover, the OeAD offers workshops by artists, which can also be conducted online with the classes.
The OeAD’s managing director, Jakob Calice, emphasises: “Cultural education projects strengthen the acquisition of key skills of children and young people. They are supported in their personal development, discover strengths and new skills in themselves, experience joint and creative activities in class and can actively shape social topics. This is what we as an education agency are committed to.”
Pupils of a primary school class develop a choreography together with a dancer, grammar school pupils get to know the exhibition of a contemporary photographer and try their hands at digital photo portraits, middle school pupils experiment with fonts in an online calligraphy workshop – these are just a few examples of the many possibilities.
The OeAD subsidises the fees of creative artists and advises teachers and creative artists on all aspects of cooperation between schools, the arts and culture. With the new initiative the fees will be increased.
Information about the new “Kultur:Bildung” initiative is available at www.oead.at/kulturbildung. Submissions are possible at any time and can also be made at very short notice until the end of 2021.
In the school year 2021/22 other offers and initiatives for “cultural education with schools” were also launched, for information seewww.oead.at/ausschreibungen.
Information about the thematic focus and online workshops is available at www.oead.at/morethanbytes.
Enquiries and contact:
OeAD – Agency for Education and Internationalisation
Mag. Ursula Hilmar
+43 1 53408-270
presse@oead.at
www.oead.at
Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research
Mag. Debora Knob
+43 1 53120-5026
debora.knob@bmbwf.gv.at
www.bmbwf.gv.at