Austrian Youth Strategy: Measures in the area of the arts and culture

The promotion of participation in culture

Within the framework of the Austrian youth strategy, the Federal Ministry of the Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport is realising the following youth goal:

Youth goal

Facilitating access to the arts and culture for young people and promoting their participation in culture.

In order to promote enthusiasm among young people for activities in the arts and culture, it is important to ensure simple access, to present information in a way which is appropriate for the target group and to carry out outreach work. Cooperation between the arts and culture sector and trainers is of key importance in order to reach as many young people from different social backgrounds as possible, and in this way to win over the youth of today as the audiences of the future. Above and beyond this, participation in cultural activities leads to greater resilience and thus increases young people’s feeling of well-being.
Given that cultural involvement is also conducive to playing an active role in democracy, this goal is essential in promoting the participation of young people in society.

Measures for the realisation of the youth goal

Measures to promote young people’s interest in films

Subsidies for activities to promote the interest in films of young people and young adults in particular The recipients of subsidies organise festivals specifically for target groups (such as the children’s film festival) or realise youth jury activities and/or outreach events within the framework of film festivals (such as Crossing Europe in Linz, Diagonale in Graz, the Innsbruck International Film Festival, the Alpinale in Bludenz, etc.) and other film culture events (film education activities of the Austrian Film Archive, the Austrian Film Museum or the EFA Young Audience Award of the European Film Academy – coordinated for Austria by the Academy of Austrian Films).

A reality check has been carried out. The youth goal contributes towards the following European youth goals:

The subsidisation of music and theatre projects for young people

Funding measures for music and theatre projects with the direct participation of children and young people. Theatre productions are intended to present issues on the stage which are important and controversial for young people, and at the same time to convey the value of theatre as a lively and fascinating form of artistic expression. Projects are carried out with external institutions which are professionals in conveying the arts to children and young people with the involvement of schools and teachers (such as Theater der Jugend).

A low-threshold and inclusive approach towards orchestras and choirs strengthens the social and cultural identity of young people. The recipients of funding organise interactive concerts with various musical outreach programmes such as New Viennese Voices, Jeuness – Musical Youth Austria. Young people’s music competitions (such as Prima La Musica) encourage young people to get involved and promote the musical talents of young musicians

A reality check has been carried out. The youth goal contributes towards the following European youth goals:

Free entry to Federal museums and the Austrian National Library for young people under the age of 19

Since 1 January 2010 the initiative Free Entry for under-19s has enabled children and young people under the age of 19 to use all federal museums and the Austrian National Library free of charge.

This offer makes a significant contribution towards creating enthusiasm for the arts and culture among this target group of varying ages. It promotes their participation in culture, and in addition also reaches out to children and young people from lower-income families.

In this way, young people obtain access to the greatest cultural treasures of Austria without financial obstacles. Older pupils in class groups and their teachers benefit particularly from this initiative.

Information on collections, exhibitions and outreach programmes (various children’s guided tours, workshops for children and young people and cooperation programmes with other providers of cultural and leisure events) are offered by the websites of the federal museums.

A reality check has been carried out. The youth goal contributes towards the following European youth goals:

Further information

Contact

Nicole Gattermayer, MSc
Federal Ministry of the Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport
Concordiaplatz 2, 1010 Wien
E-mail: nicole.gattermayer@bmkoes.gv.at