Participation Process for the Realignment of the Cultural Policy Strategy of the State Capital Potsdam

The state capital Potsdam, in cooperation with the Cultural Work program at the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences, has organized an extensive participation process aimed at developing a new cultural policy strategy for the period from 2025 to 2030.

The City Council has adopted "Part A: Foundations and Action Areas" of the cultural policy strategy for Potsdam. The document can be found in the download section.

This document outlines the strategic foundations and action areas of the city's cultural policy for the 2025–2030 period and defines the following focus areas:

• Cultural Education and Participation
• Sustainability
• Diversity
• Cultural Heritage
• Digitalization
• Cultural Funding
• Cultural Marketing
• Internationality
• Urban Development
• Cultural and Creative Industries
• Networking and Knowledge Transfer

These and other focal points identified during the participation process represent important guiding principles for the cultural policy development of the state capital.

Part A forms the basis for the "Part B: Measures and Implementation Package", which is set to be developed starting in the third quarter of 2024. This will be presented to the City Council for approval by the end of the year.

Leadership and Coordination

The overall leadership of the project lies with Prof. Dr. Walid Hafezi, the Deputy Mayor for Education, Culture, Youth, and Sports. The project coordination on behalf of the state capital is managed by Dr. Birgit-Katharine Seemann, Head of the Department of Culture and Museum. Prof. Dr. Julia Glesner, Head of the Cultural Work program at the Potsdam University of Applied Sciences, is overseeing the scientific direction of the project. The WerkStadt for Participation of the state capital Potsdam is also involved in the project, providing expert support throughout the process.

The strategy group, responsible for advising the project leadership on key issues, is composed of the project leaders, a representative from the WerkStadt for Participation (in an advisory role), members of the Cultural Committee, municipal advisory boards, the #KulturMachtPotsdam network, and a representative from the Ministry of Science, Research, and Culture of Brandenburg.

In spring 2024, the Department of Culture and Museum will present **"Part A: Foundations and Action Areas"** of the new cultural policy strategy to the City Council for approval.

Retrospective:

Kick-Off Event

The kick-off meeting on January 21/22, 2022, marked the official start of the participation process for the realignment of the cultural policy strategy for the state capital Potsdam. The two-day online event received significant attention, with over 130 cultural actors from Potsdam actively contributing ideas and proposals for developing the strategy.

Working groups were formed on the following thematic focuses: Cultural Funding / Urban Development, Cultural and Creative Industries / Cultural Education and Participation / Communication and Marketing, and Cultural Memory, Museums, Memorial Sites.

Participation Formats

Various participation formats are available for developing the strategy, targeting both professionals in cultural organizations and projects as well as the residents of the state capital Potsdam:

• Working Groups: Consisting of different cultural actors from Potsdam (employees of cultural organizations and associations, representatives of the creative industries, freelancers, and professionals working in the cultural field, both paid and voluntary). These groups address various cultural work topics and collaboratively develop concrete solutions to be included in the strategy paper.
• Thematic Workshops: These workshops supplement and expand the working groups during the participation phase, discussing overarching topics (sustainability, diversity, digitalization, post-colonial heritage, and internationality) with external experts.
• Round Table: On September 17, 2022, a round table took place at oskar. Das Begegnungszentrum in the Drewitz Garden City, where all interested residents were invited to exchange ideas on socio-cultural work in different districts of Potsdam and contribute their own suggestions for shaping this area.
• Digital Plenary Session: On November 18, 2022, the results of the participation phase, which lasted several months, were reflected upon and evaluated during a digital plenary session. This marked the conclusion of the participation phase, where the results were assessed and prioritized.

If you would like to be added to the distribution list, please send an email to kultur@rathaus.potsdam.de.