Cultural journeyman/cultural companion

Project: Cultural Apprentice (Kulturgeselle / Kulturgesellin)

The project is led by the association Paderborner Kreaturen e.V.
Manfred Webel and Jan Bargfrede introduce young people to the world of creative work.

What is it about?

• Photography, fashion, writing, music, and much more.

• Teenagers and young adults learn how to write stories, make sculptures, or create music.

• They learn which tools and materials they need.

Who can participate?

• Young people aged 15 to 21.

• They apply with a selfie video.

• There are 13 artists, each guiding a different area.

The artists share their knowledge in fields such as:

• Photography and photojournalism

• Illustration

• DJ-ing

• Poetry Slam

• Fashion and textile design

• Painting and sculpture

How the project works

• The project started in Paderborn in 2018.

• 35 young people worked on videos, paintings, sculptures, graffiti, and clothing.

• In Bielefeld, 31 young people participated.

• They worked on sculpture, illustration, photography, fashion design, poetry slam, or DJing.

From day 1 to day 14, participants worked closely with the artists.

Final event:

• In Paderborn, 80 people attended.

• In Bielefeld, 100 people attended.

• The young participants presented their photographs, sculptures, stories, fashion items, and illustrations.

• They received recognition and a lot of applause.

The results are more than just a snapshot.
They show young people paths to education or studies in creative fields.

Project goal

• To support young adults on their creative journey.

• To teach them how to turn artistic skills into a product or service.