Symposium Cultural-Selfcare

For, By, With Young People?

Participation and Cultural Self-Care in Arts and Cultural Education Infrastructures

Date: 14–15 September 2026

Venue: Kulturfabrik Löseke KuFa, Langer Garten 1 in 31137 Hildesheim kufa.info

Organised by: Institute of Cultural Policy and Institute of Social and Organisational Pedagogy, University of Hildesheim

Languages: English, German

About the Symposium

Arts and Cultural Education infrastructures are created by young people, volunteers, and professionals alike. They are never solely the domain of professionals; rather, they depend on young people actively participating in their development, viewing them as spaces for their own cultural self-care, and being driven by this self-care. Simultaneously, arts and cultural education infrastructures always offer artistic and cultural learning opportunities for young people. They therefore exist within the tension of being with, by, and for young people. They are never solely for, solely by, or solely with young people. Furthermore, not only the programs but also the infrastructures themselves depend on young people; at the very least, their participation is essential.

→ The key to moderating this "for, by and with young people" dimension of cultural education is often participation. Participation is considered a fundamental condition for realizing young people's rights to cultural education.

However, there is rarely any nuanced discussion of how participation in arts and cultural education moderates the relationship for, by and with young people, and which group has decision-making authority in these contexts. Too often, participation remains symbolic, as those participating are often presented with a fait accompli. How, then, can these tensions be addressed? 

This symposium explores the experiences of young people, projects, concepts, theoretical perspectives, and empirical analyses that reflect in detail on the realization of participation within the programs and infrastructure of arts and cultural education. The symposium aims to collaboratively develop guiding principles for the participation of young people in cultural education and to examine how this strengthens their right to cultural self-education. This focus is particularly relevant in the context of post-2030 debates and international discussions on recognising culture as a potential 18th Sustainable Development Goal.

Thematic Areas

We invite contributions that critically engage with the questions and issues outlined above. Contributions may address, but are not limited to, the following thematic areas: 

• Cultural Rights and Young People / Culture as 18th Sustainable Development Goal
• Cultural Self-Care and Cultural Self-Education as Practice and Concept
• Motivation to Participate in Arts and Cultural Education
• Spaces and Infrastructures for Cultural Self-Care and Self-Education
• Participatory Methodologies in Research and Practice
• Artistic and Cultural Practices and/as Spaces of Knowledge Production

Formats of Contribution

The symposium is conceived as a dialogical and participatory format. Possible forms of contribution include:

• Paper or research presentation
• Practice-based and project-oriented contributions (including critical reflections and lessons learned)
• Interactive workshops or participatory sessions
• Poster presentations

Other formats are welcome. Contributors are invited to briefly describe their proposed format and approach.

Submission Guidelines

• Abstract length: Maximum 250 words

• Languages: English or German

   

Submit a Contribution: please click here –> 

Key Dates

• 15 February 2026:                Calls for proposals launched
• 30 March 2026:                Proposal submission deadline
• 15 April 2026:                Notification of decisions 
• 15 April - 15 May 2026:         Registration

Submit a Contribution: please click here –> 

For questions, please contact us at symposium-kuse@uni-hildesheim.de