Carinthia's cultural strategy: Citizens' participation for creative future!

Carinthia's cultural strategy: Citizens' participation for creative future!

In Carinthia, the "Art and Cultural Strategy Carinthia/Koroška" develops as a significant project to promote cultural diversity and participative art. So far, 750 people have actively participated in the creation of this strategy, which aims at the sustainable development of the art and cultural scene in the region. An interim report will be presented in the government meeting on April 8, 2025, which underlines the urgency and importance of the project. Future forums have been taking place since 2024 to discuss important topics and set new impulses. The next forum that deals with "art, culture and tourism" is planned for April 28 in Ossiach. Two other forums are to take place in St. Veit and Wolfsberg in June and September.

In the run-up to these events, interviews were carried out and well-attended kick-off workshops were organized. The number of participants is encouraging: 220 people in Bleiburg/Pliberk, 160 in Spittal and 150 in Villach took part in the forums. In addition, 87 people in Klagenfurt were active at the art and cultural workshops. The aim of this comprehensive initiative is to create a concept for the future cultural profile of the country and to define the strategic fields of action for an innovative cultural policy.

participation as the key to success

The art and cultural strategy is more than just one document- it is a participatory process over two and a half years that aims to integrate the Carinthian population and cooperation with experts from the art and cultural sector. Dr. Peter Kaiser, the cultural officer, has initiated this comprehensive project, which is part of the government program of the current sustainability coalition. The central question remains how the diverse cultural forms of expression in Carinthia/Koroška can be preserved and strengthened.

The strategy itself includes several project parts, including a comprehensive inventory analysis, public event formats for cultural and artists as well as a participatory development of focus issues. The process aims to identify concrete measures and to ensure multimedia communication that informs everyone interested. This corresponds to the goals of cultural education based on the active participation of everyone and is based on Article 27 of Human Rights. Participation represents a democratic principle and promotes participation in cultural processes.

art and society in dialogue

The participatory approaches in art, as can also be found in contemporary art practice, show that artists actively involve the public in creative processes. This dialogical art practice has the potential to make social conditions visible and to change them through a shared exchange. One example is the exhibition "The mountain or who cries for whom and who gets wet" by Aliénor, who promotes the interaction between recipient and artists and serves as an instrument for cultural intervention and social change.

works of art that create social environments and address human relationships can therefore have a positive impact on society. The participatory art not only brings together different voices, but also promotes the responsibility of the citizens for their cultural environment. The Carinthian art and cultural strategy therefore stands for the attempt to combine these perspectives and to find holistic solutions for the challenges of regional cultural development.

For more information, the website of the Kunst- und Kultur strategy Carinthia is a helpful resource that continuously provides information about developments. In addition, click Carinthia News and backgrounds on the project.