Borrowing instead of buying: Münsterland materials exchange launches
A full house, lively discussions and a tangible will to shape the future: the Münsterland Municipal Cultural Conference, hosted by the Münsterland e.V. cultural office, brought together numerous representatives from the cultural administration of the municipalities and districts at the einsA intergenerational centre in Dülmen on Friday. The focus was on how a sustainable cultural landscape can be created even under tight budgets and limited resources.
"Networking at a local level is essential. Successful projects, efficient measures and proven programmes do not always have to be rethought - rather, looking at existing experiences offers great potential for learning from each other," said Andreas Grotendorst, CEO of Münsterland e.V.
"Who do we want to have been?" - this question was the guiding principle throughout the entire event. It invited participants to shed light on the long-term impact of cultural work in the Münsterland region. In his contribution, actor, author and presenter Christoph Tiemann took up the question and sharpened it pointedly: "Who must we have been?" - a phrase that emphasised the fundamental importance of culture for society and cohesion.
The content of the conference was directly linked to the needs of the municipalities. This was based on a survey of the cities and municipalities in the Münsterland region, which resulted in thematic forums that specifically addressed current challenges and discussed practical solutions. There was a particularly high level of interest in the topic of "Audience Development", which highlighted new ways of attracting and involving audiences.
"Culture only unfolds its impact where it really reaches its audience - for municipal providers, this means not only designing programmes, but also building relationships with their audience," said Andre Sebastian, Head of the Cultural Office, explaining the strong demand. "Audience development can be a useful strategy here."
In addition to the targeted transfer of knowledge, there was also plenty of room for personal dialogue. The participants took the opportunity to exchange ideas about cultural work and make new contacts. The next meeting will take place digitally - probably later this year.
