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New networks

Launch of a new theatre initiative for young audiences in Cologne

Tuesday, 24 August 2021, 18:00 – 21:00, at COMEDIA Theater

Event closed to the public

These pandemic times have made one thing painfully clear: it is not merely nationwide networks such as ASSITEJ or state-wide associations such as the NRW Workgroup of Theatres for Young Audiences that play key roles in shaping cultural policy, but networking has become more important at the city level as well.

The biggest city in NRW has a large independent theatre scene, and with the new Cologne Initiative of Independent Theatres (Initiative Freier Theater Köln, IFT), that theatre scene has become even more close-knit. The association is even open to groups and individual artists in the performing arts who were not previously members of other theatre platforms. The foundation of the Cologne Cultural Network (Kulturnetz Köln) as an association for all artists marks a further step in the right direction. But one thing stands out: neither of these initiatives adequately represents the interests of theatre-makers for young audiences.

Therefore, WESTWIND would like to propose a new workgroup of theatres for young audiences in Cologne, which could ideally be incorporated into the new Cologne Performing Arts Association (Verband Darstellende Künste Köln). Progress can only be made if the interests and demands of theatres for young audiences are consistently formulated in new and productive ways. Art for children has the weakest lobby. Those who remain silent are in danger of being forgotten, especially in times such as these.

This event is intended to provide a place and time for the foundation of such a workgroup amongst an exchange of ideas and impulses on success stories of common interest groups from other German cities.