Supporting Children and Youth – Creating Opportunities for the Future

Promoting educational equity is the German federal government’s stated goal. According to the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and the SPD, the “Kultur macht stark” program will continue beyond 2028. The program’s repeated mention is understandable given its impressive track record:

Since the launch of the federal program “Kultur macht stark. Alliances for Education” in 2013, over 53,000 projects for children and young people have already taken place throughout Germany. These projects have reached more than 1.5 million participants and opened up access to cultural education for them. Nearly 21,000 Alliances for Education have been involved in the projects to date, initiated by 100,000 civil society actors. “Culture Makes You Strong” projects have so far been successfully carried out in all districts and independent cities—44.8 percent of them in rural regions.

Without “Culture Empowers: Alliances for Education,” key structures for promoting educational equity in Germany will crumble. Its elimination would mean fewer cultural learning spaces, less support for children who cannot rely on resources at home—and thus fewer opportunities for social participation. “Culture Empowers: Alliances for Education” is more than just a funding program for cultural education: it is an effective tool against educational poverty, social division, and unequal life opportunities. That is why its continuation from 2028 for at least another five years—as provided for in the coalition agreement—is indispensable.

For over twelve years, the program has been creating sustainable out-of-school educational experiences for at-risk children and youth: It fosters personal development through new access to art and culture, thereby laying the groundwork for successful educational trajectories. By empowering children and youth, the program increases their chances of social participation and directly counteracts social division.

“Culture Empowers: Alliances for Education” takes into account the full spectrum of human action and creativity. The 27 program partners use their professional expertise to ensure the quality of the offerings. They represent the diversity of German civil society: from nationwide arts, culture, and education associations, initiatives, migrant and Jewish organizations, to the multitude of nonprofit associations and actors working locally to promote education, participation, and social cohesion.

With nationwide structures, the program partners ensure that the target group is reached across the country through local alliances. They are supported in this effort by volunteer and civic engagement. In this way, they strengthen trust, self-efficacy, and participation, thereby making a decisive contribution to democracy, social cohesion, and equal participation in a pluralistic society.

Long-term monitoring of the program and the associated evaluation show that “Kultur macht stark” has a sound funding model and that the high quality of local offerings is ensured by the professional expertise of the 27 program partners and their structures. Therefore, the 27 program partners are calling for the program to continue starting in 2028 for at least another five years.

1. Equal Educational Opportunities Through Cultural Education—From the Very Beginning

The programs offered by the “Kultur macht stark” projects actively counteract inequality in educational opportunities from the very beginning. In doing so, the projects foster the personal development of children and youth by strengthening their self-efficacy, creativity, commitment, teamwork skills, and concentration. Children and youth learn to recognize their strengths and develop new skills. This creates a lasting impact that empowers them as they continue their educational journey.

2. Ensuring Educational Success

Participation in cultural life and equal opportunities for education must not depend on social circumstances. Positive experiences during childhood and adolescence lay the foundation for educational success. The programs offered by “Culture Empowers: Alliances for Education” enable young people to develop skills for the future, regardless of their family’s resources. In this way, structural and institutional barriers are broken down from the very beginning.

3. Experiencing Democracy – Putting Children’s and Human Rights into Practice

In the “Kultur macht stark” projects, democracy is experienced firsthand: Children and young people actively shape the projects, take on responsibility, and see how children’s and human rights are realized through participation. Participation, collaborative shaping, and respectful interaction on an equal footing characterize these programs. In this way, young people gain a voice, strengthen their ability to engage in dialogue, and learn to constructively address a variety of issues.

4. Strengthening Local Educational Landscapes – Especially in Rural Areas

The evaluation shows that local educational landscapes are most effective when programs and initiatives are closely integrated. They create reliable structures for cultural education at the local level and ensure that programs for children and youth are tailored to their needs. These structures are becoming increasingly important, especially in rural areas: They revitalize regions, compensate for the loss of other educational opportunities, and thus help ensure equitable living conditions and essential public services.

5. Further Developing the Quality of Full-Day Programs

“Culture Builds Strength” projects make an important contribution to the quality of full-day programs. The diverse and flexible educational offerings integrate school-based and out-of-school learning environments, broaden children’s horizons, and reach them even outside of school hours—for example, during school breaks.

“Culture Makes You Strong: Alliances for Education” supports the achievement of educational policy goals and legal obligations on many levels—it is an established program with proven impact. With the start of a new funding phase beginning in 2028, an opportunity will arise to further develop and expand the program based on its proven structures. This opportunity can be seized now! The 27 program partners remain available to support this effort with their structures and expertise.

The program partners in “Culture Makes You Strong III”:

• Aktion Tanz – Bundesverband Tanz in Bildung und Gesellschaft e. V.
• Alevitische Gemeinde Deutschland K.d.ö.R.
• ASSITEJ e. V. Bundesrepublik Deutschland
• BAG Zirkuspädagogik e. V.
• Bundesmusikverband Chor & Orchester e. V.
• Bundesverband Bildender Künstlerinnen und Künstler e. V.
• Bundesverband der Friedrich-Bödecker-Kreise e. V.
• Bundesverband Freie Darstellende Künste e. V.
• Bundesverband Jugend und Film e. V.
• Bundesverband Netzwerke von Migrantenorganisationen e. V.
• Bundesverband Popularmusik e. V.
• Bundesvereinigung Kulturelle Kinder- und Jugendbildung e. V.
• DAGESH. Jüdische Kunst im Kontext, ein Programm von DialoguePerspective e.V.
• Deutscher Bibliotheksverband e. V.
• Deutscher Bühnenverein – Bundesverband der Theater und Orchester
• Deutscher Museumsbund e. V.
• Deutscher Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband – Gesamtverband e. V.
• Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband e. V.
• Fonds Darstellende Künste e. V.
• JFF – Jugend Film Fernsehen e. V.
• Paritätisches Bildungswerk Bundesverband e. V.
• Spielmobile e. V. – Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der mobilen spielkulturellen Projekte
• Stiftung Digitale Spielekultur gGmbH
• Stiftung Lesen
• Türkische Gemeinde in Deutschland e. V.
• Verband deutscher Musikschulen e. V.
• Zirkus macht stark – Zirkus für alle e. V.