"Altstetten explains the world to Blickfelder Festival" in the context of Blickfelder Festival 2013
This research firstly, inquired how pupils coming from sections of population which are widely excluded from public arts- and culture activities in the city perceive the festival and their own participation. Secondly, opinions and preconceptions adults from the same milieus had about Blickfelder were gathered and analyzed.
"Altstetten erklärt Blickfelder die Welt" (Altstetten explains the world to “Blickfelder” Festival) was conducted by the IAE on behalf of the Office of Elementary Education of the Canton of Zurich.
The target audience of Blickfelder festival (website in German) is mainly school groups. The festival addresses and reaches children and young people from different neighbourhoods and various social and economic situations. This research tried to understand, firstly, how pupils coming from sections of population which are widely excluded from public arts- and culture activities in the city perceive the festival and their own participation. Secondly, it asked about the opinions and preconceptions that adults from the same milieus had about Blickfelder.
The Institute for Art Education conducted a pilot qualitative field study on these questions during Blickfelder 2013. Within a chosen neighbourhood – Zurich-Altstetten-stakeholders and multipliers were identified: pupils and teachers of QUIMS-classes taking part at the festival, as well as active participants of community centres, religious groups and several organisations of education and self-help. All interlocutors took part in interviews on their opinions, motives and experiences with Blickfelder. In this process, factors leading to exclusion from cultural participation were identified. Additionally, group workshops were conducted with all interviewees on the development of programmes for increased participation and contribution at the following Blickfelder Festival.
Building on the knowledge of this study, the project “Art Affiliators“ has been running since July 2014 in collaboration with the section school&culture at the Department of Education of the Canton of Zurich.
Project lead: Carmen Mörsch, Wanda Wieczorek
Research assistant: Camilla Franz
In cooperation with the section school&culture at the Department of Education of the Canton of Zurich http://www.schuleundkultur.zh.ch
Arts festival for children and youth Blickfelder: http://www.blickfelder.ch
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