My FSJ at the Cultural Office: Jola Droste
Jola worked for the Münsterland Cultural Office from September 2024 to August 2025 as part of her FSJ-Kultur programme. In this interview, she talks about her experiences and her own project.
Interview
What expectations did you have of your FSJ Culture?
I started my FSJ mainly with the expectation of getting to know working life in an office after leaving school and orientating myself professionally for a year after graduating from high school. I didn't expect to end up discovering cultural life throughout Münsterland, meeting lots of inspiring people and having lots of new experiences.
What did you learn most at the cultural office?
Working at the cultural office has enabled me to strengthen my social skills in particular. I have become much more open and self-confident in my dealings with other people, which I particularly notice when I'm on the phone. :) Overall, it's probably the practical experience between school and university that has taught me a lot: From general office work to coordinating events.
What was your own project?
My FSJ project was Kulturmapping Münsterland: a tool that enables arts and culture professionals to find the right venue for their project. The main components of the realisation were creating and sending out a survey to numerous venues, entering the information from the survey into the Münsterland data portal and setting up the Kulturmapping website.
What is your favourite memory of the FSJ?
I particularly enjoyed the presentation week of our art project "Changing signs - 50 years of regional reform in Münsterland", where we put on different events over five consecutive days. During this intensive time, I was able to learn a lot about event management.
Overall, however, there are many small office moments with lovely colleagues that I will remember most fondly.
Impressions of the event "Ein Kessel Buntes" in the framework of which Jiyan realised her project
Were you ever overwhelmed or did something go wrong?
At the beginning, there were a lot of new impressions, tasks and, above all, names that were a bit overwhelming at first. It was easy to forget your boss's first name... But the team slowly introduced me to everything and I was always able to ask any questions I had, so the initial overwhelm quickly dissipated.
Who would you recommend an FSJ at the Kulturbüro Münsterland to?
An FSJ at the Kulturbüro Münsterland is generally great for anyone who wants to gain work experience and broaden their horizons after leaving school. The FSJ is also ideal for jumping over your own shadow, socialising with strangers and strengthening your social skills.
What are you doing today?
I'm studying business psychology in Osnabrück. This means I'm leaving both the cultural sector and the Münsterland region, but you should stop when it's at its best.
Anything else you would like to add?
In addition to the wonderful experiences at the cultural office, you also have a great time at the seminar weeks with other volunteers. Here, too, you might be a bit overwhelmed at first with all the new people and impressions, but you quickly get to know cool people and can share your experiences. I also learnt that an FSJ like the one at the cultural office is a real privilege.
Thanks to the whole team at Münsterland e.V. for a wonderful year!
