| Workshop summary by Kerstin Olander |
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Short summary of discussions in workshop Cultural policies, Children´s Culture
Moderator: Kerstin Olander (Sweden)
Secretary: Marija Milivojevic (Sweden)
Participants: Anna Bardashevskaya (Ukraine), Ausra Jolanta Pliaugiene (Lithuania), Barbro Stigsdotter Möller (Sweden), Catharina Hjalmarsson (Sweden), Ekaterina Belik (Kaliningrad), Kari Woxholt Svedrup (Norway), Malgorzata Cichulska (Poland), Maude Sundström (Sweden), Mina Wall (Kaliningrad), Mika Larsson (Sweden/Poland), Nina Gran (Finland), Pikke Syrjä-Väisinen (Finland), Ruta Kackute (Lithuania), Tamara Turbanist (Ukraine), Timo Parkkonen (Finland), Torsten Schenlaer (Sweden/Lithuania), Ulrika Lindblad (Sweden), Viktoriya Serebryanskaya (Kaliningrad)
We began the workshop by defining the difference between culture for children and culture by children. We agreed on that both are necessary and that we, as adults, have to have respect for the choises of artforms and genres made by children. Children are the experts of childhood and of the new artforms. You can´t force children into culture that is not of their interrest – what we can do is to give them the tools and the possibilities to be cultural persons.
What is the role of adults? We hade some different opinions on that. On the one hand parents and educators need education in childrens culture to be able to be good guides for the child. On the other hand it´s important to leave the child to experience art and culture by their own. Professional artists and artpedagogues are most wanted and useful in both cases.
Co-operation between the sectors of education and culture on all levels are essential. Fifty years ago we didn´t discuss childrens culture but culture was on the scedule of all schools. Today cultural education lacks in many schools thou we discuss it more. It is important to replace art education in school, and to make that possible the both sectors need both formalised and non formalised co-operation. Co-operation is more important than money.
Politicians must highlight childrens culture much more than is done today. By information of the importance of childrens culture they can open doors to a better understanding and rise the status of the sector. Culture should be an integrated political issue – not a voluntary hobby. Culture should be implemented in all sectors of society.
Thou we come from diffrent countries with different backgrounds and history we all agreed in children´s rights, the importance of creativity and school as an important place to reach all children. There is a common experience that there is to much a difference between the policy level and practice. Many poited out the importance of highlighting good practise and the exchange of ideas and interaction between our countries. Culture is an exellent way of learning about the world.
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