Youth culture in Aschaffenburg at an end? Jukuz and Juz close!

Youth culture in Aschaffenburg at an end? Jukuz and Juz close!

There is a sense of alarm in Aschaffenburg! According to the Cultural Council, youth culture has “almost disappeared”. After the long-time head of the youth cultural center (Jukuz) resigned, the position has been vacant for months, and church sponsors have also said goodbye to open youth work. Institutions such as the Evangelical Youth Center on Alexandrastraße and the catacomb in Martinushaus are closed - a bitter loss for the young generation!

The numbers speak for themselves: of 150 events in 2019, only about 60 are left, and most of them are not even aimed at young people. The Cultural Council warns that young people are being denied important opportunities for creative development. The loss of the music office, which once organized newcomer festivals such as “Sound Season” and offered young bands performance opportunities, is particularly painful. Claus Berninger, head of the Colos Hall, confirms that there are currently hardly any opportunities for young musicians to present themselves. The vibrant scene that once thrived has declined sharply.

Social consequences and demands

The impact is not only cultural but also social. A report on 2023 crime statistics shows that police are calling on city politicians to rethink youth work. The Cultural Council has drawn up a list of demands that includes a rapid replacement of the Jukuz management and financial support for the Jukuz. The city administration, on the other hand, states that the search for suitable applicants for the Jukuz leadership has so far been unsuccessful and that the church sponsors also had to close due to a lack of money.

Mayor Jürgen Herzing emphasizes that the city is working on an interim management for the Jukuz in order to revitalize youth work. However, he points out that the previous events were often attended by people over 40 and that the needs of young people have changed. “Instead of preserving the ashes, we would rather light new fires,” says Herzing. But the question remains: How long can the city stand by while youth culture in Aschaffenburg continues to dwindle?