Special Project “Cultural Participation”
Culture is for everybody and therefore everybody should have access to shape it and contribute to it. With this principle in mind the Stanley Thomas Johnson Foundation launched the special project “Cultural Participation” in autumn 2023. The pilot project aimed to promote participatory cultural projects from across the spectrum of artistic disciplines by associations, institutions and professional artists working in collaboration with communities or amateur groups.
The special project “Cultural Participation” aims to foster the cultural activities of a wide range of individuals and groups, encouraging their self-expression and participation in shaping cultural life. Shared creative processes strengthen equality of opportunity and contribute to cultural diversity.
The foundation launched this project to emphasise the important issue of cultural participation and acknowledge the achievements of existing and planned initiatives in the field, which the existing funding structures did not adequately provide for. In addition to artistic quality, the criteria for assessing applications focused on the active authorship of participants, (co-)creation and quality of process.
The response to the project was overwhelming: a total of around 100 applications were submitted in the fields of theatre, dance, music and visual arts. 22 of these were selected to receive a project grant. The foundation thereby actively contributes to embedding participation as a structural and sustainable part of the cultural sector.
Funded projects
Mission Mischen, Association Kulturkosmonauten
The project Mission Mischen by the association Kulturkosmonauten from St.Gallen focuses on breaking through social bubbles, and on using the context of culture to foster dialogue and cooperation between people and institutions who would otherwise not meet. In the three formats MONTAGSTRAINING, KOSMONAUTISCHE BIBLIOTHEK and FORUM KULTURKOSMOS, the project creates spaces for dialogue and platforms for young people on different, complementary levels. Using the powerful tool of participative creative work and art as a “lever”, the project supports the development of concrete, democratically organized meeting spaces and visions for the future.
Satellit, Junge Bühne Bern
The idea for “Satellite” arose from the need of young people to make for their own independent productions: a separate platform for theatre, dance, performance or interdisciplinary projects that are initiated, conceived and realized by young people aged between 15 and 25 – at every stage from the idea to the performance. The participants are supported by mentors from the cultural sector, but only as much as is necessary and requested. The successful pilot project launched by Junge Bühne Bern is currently being extended to French- and Italian-speaking Switzerland. The plays are shared with a wide audience every year as part of the Festival of Satellites.
Criptonite, Tentacles
Looking at the animal kingdom, fungi, plants, nature and climate change, Criptonite: Tentacles aims to create interwoven networks of community and artistically explore and present various strategies for survival and adaptation. The crip-queer theatre project Criptonite by Nina Mühlemann and Edwin Ramirez uses various formats (including labs, workshops, performances) to create a long-term network for disabled artists and promote their exchange with non-disabled artists. At the same time, these networks and connections will also be formally and structurally analysed and there is an increased focus on community building and community empowerment.
Village culturel – Association Musikvermittlung Schweiz
In the cultural village, people from very different walks of life come together through music, literature, dance and theatre and with the help of artistic methods based on co-creation: Professionals and non-professionals in the arts from northern and southern Switzerland, Swiss and Afghan people together, create intercultural songs, scenes and texts in workshops throughout the year. These are presented to the public in two large and several small performances. The project culminates in two publications, one artistic and one scientific. The project was initiated by Barbara Balla Weber and the Verein Musikvermittlung Schweiz (Swiss Music Education Association).
Les Grottes en movement, Compagnie Dô
Les Grottes en mouvement was born from a desire to develop local creative potential across generations, based on the conviction that everyone is creative and can express themselves through movement. The dance company Dô wants to share the creative and improvisation tools of hip-hop dance in workshops with residents of the Geneva neighbourhoods of Les Grottes, Pâquis and St. Gervais, where they are based. Various performance formats will be developed together, inspired by the stories, ambitions and dreams of the neighbourhood residents.