Düsseldorf demands backing in crowdfunding endeavor: Cultural Agenda petitioning for funds
Cultural Accessibility Faces Financial Barriers, Initiatives Appeal for Software Support
Attending cultural events such as theatre, museum visits, and concerts remains a luxury for many individuals due to rising living costs. With essential expenses like food and energy taking precedence, participating in cultural activities often becomes an unaffordable luxury, particularly for those living below the poverty line. In the city of Düsseldorf, this demographic now constitutes over 19% of its residents.
To bridge this gap, the non-profit organization Kulturliste Düsseldorf has worked tirelessly for the past decade, enabling over 40,000 visits to cultural and sporting events for individuals with limited income. This achievement is thanks to the efforts of more than 40 volunteers and a network of approximately 200 cultural and social organizations.
While these initiatives, such as those in Munich, Freiburg, Cologne, Leipzig, Dresden, Lübeck, and others, provide meaningful experiences, they depend heavily on volunteer efforts. The process involves personal connections between cultural mediators and guests, ensuring tickets are distributed fairly. To enhance their operations, these organizations have united to secure new software, to be funded through a donation campaign.
Federal Association for Cultural Participation chairwoman, Sabine Ruchlinski, highlights the urgency of this software acquisition: "Our cultural mediation enables many people to engage with cultural events they might otherwise be unable to afford. Demand is high, and we witness daily how our work enriches the lives of many. However, without modern software, we cannot continue; we need to manage sensitive guest data, record event data, and match cultural offerings with guest interests. Furthermore, this software must be user-friendly for our many volunteer mediators."
[email protected], or Christine Stender,
The crowdfunding campaign "Software for the Perfect Cultural Match" is currently active on the StartNext donation platform. The campaign aims to raise 60,000 euros, with about a third already achieved. For more information on supporting the campaign, please visit the campaign page.
Christine Stender, chairman of Kulturliste Düsseldorf e.V., emphasizes the importance of donations, stating: "Your support is crucial to us as it enables us to take a significant step forward. By supporting us, you help continue our work in numerous German cities and bring joy to many lives. Together, we can make a difference!"
The campaign is specifically targeted at citizens with low incomes who might otherwise struggle to engage with their city's cultural scene. Key demographics included are the elderly, single parents' children, large families, young people, refugees, and people with physical or mental disabilities.
Christine Stender further notes that accessibility issues extend beyond just financial constraints, as emotional barriers like social stigmatization and perceived exclusion can also deter individuals from attending cultural events. As an advocate for culture and those with low incomes, she expresses hope that this campaign will raise awareness on all sides about the value of culture in peoples' lives and vice versa.
- For those seeking personal growth and education, the "Software for the Perfect Cultural Match" crowdfunding campaign offers an opportunity to access cultural events that might otherwise remain unaffordable due to high living costs.
- To further foster sustainable living and career development, skills training in the use of new software could be provided to the volunteers working for such initiatives, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in their mission of promoting cultural activities for low-income individuals.
- Embracing a home-and-garden philosophy that values community enrichment, supporters of this campaign can contribute to education-and-self-development by providing the resources needed for cultural mediators to effectively match guests with suitable events, fostering a greater sense of belonging and well-being.
- By supporting the "Software for the Perfect Cultural Match" campaign, individuals can help build a more inclusive lifestyle, breaking down financial and emotional barriers to cultural participation and fostering a more connected society.
