Kulturstrolche

Elementary school children discover cultural diversity

The state-wide support programme ‘Kulturstrolche’ offers children of primary school age the opportunity to actively come into contact with a wide variety of art forms and cultural institutions and thus discover the cultural diversity of their own city.

The ‘Kulturstrolche’ programme is run in cooperation with the Kultursekretariat NRW Gütersloh. In 2025, a total of 14 member cities of the NRW KULTURsekretariat are involved: Bielefeld, Bochum, Bonn, Düsseldorf, Duisburg, Gelsenkirchen, Hagen, Moers, Mönchengladbach, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Neuss, Oberhausen and Recklinghausen.

Since 2022, the cross-cutting topics of digitality and diversity have been given special consideration at specialist days in order to make the programmes more digital and diversity-sensitive. The project managers regularly come together to exchange ideas at the ‘Kulturstrolche lunchtime impulses’ and in thematically in-depth training sessions. In September, the 2024 symposium entitled ‘Strolchen all day long!?’ was held at Schuhfabrik Ahlen and dealt with the implementation options for all-day school programmes and the associated challenges and conditions for success. Intensive work will continue on this in 2025.

With ‘Kulturstrolche’, cultural institutions and artists work together with local project managers to develop a varied and high-quality cultural programme that covers all genres and is adapted to the specific age group of the ‘Kulturstrolche’. Selected schools take part in the project with classes from 2nd to 4th grade and visit the various cultural programmes in class groups and accompanied by teachers. This gives pupils the opportunity to try out culture and discover for themselves what they like and what they particularly enjoy while experimenting. By actively engaging with different art forms, they gain aesthetic experience and develop cultural skills.

The website kulturstrolche.de provides comprehensive and up-to-date information on the programme. Via this domain, a point-and-click adventure also provides playful insights into the backstage area of a fictitious theatre. In addition, the Bielefeld band Randale has composed its own ‘Kulturstrolche’ song, which is available on the website, including a video.

Current maximum funding amount: 6,500 euros

Information on funding

What is funded under the programme??

Cultural institutions and artists from the member cities of the NRW KULTURsekretariat work together with the local project leaders to develop a varied and high-quality cultural programme that encompasses all genres and is tailored to the specific age group of the "Kulturstrolche", primary school children in grades 2 to 4.

Member cities of the NRWKS that participate in the "Kulturstrolche" funding programme receive funding for implementation and a subsidy for project manager costs upon application.

It is possible for other member cities to join in consultation with the NRWKS. Please contact foerderung(at)nrw-kultur.de.

Who can apply?

Cultural offices from the member cities after prior consultation with the NRWKS.

Is there an application deadline?

Interested municipalities must express their interest by 30 March of the previous school year. Municipalities that have already introduced the programme submit their application for the following year no later than 30 November of the previous year.

What is the amount of funding?

The maximum funding amount is 6,500 EUR, 5,500 EUR for projects and 1,000 EUR as a grant for the project manager.

Funding is provided in the form of full financing, provided that all costs can be covered with the funding amount.

What funding conditions must be met?

The content of the project must correspond to the Kulturstrolche concept and be located in one of the member cities.

The project must not have been started by the time the grant is confirmed. This includes public relations work, conclusion of contracts, awarding of contracts and payments.

Funding for parties and organisations that pursue a profit-making objective is not envisaged.

The application must follow the guidelines of the programme. The basis for funding is the conclusion of a cooperation agreement with the NRWKS, which must be submitted together with the application.

Whow do I apply for funding?

Applications must be submitted via the NRWKS funding portal.

An additional cost and financing plan must be uploaded to the funding portal for all projects whose total volume exceeds EUR 5,000.

The application must also be submitted by post.

Click here for further information on the funding procedure.

Kulturstrolche

Trailer Kulturstrolche