The bridge that leads to culture in school

Now it is here – the Kulturbron website. It is intended to be a link between cultural creators and the county's bookers of art and culture in school environments. – Region Norrbotten has decided to promote more culture for children and young people in schools, because schools are such an important place for culture, says Annica Löfling, project manager at Region Norrbotten.

The Cultural Bridge can be described as a digital catalogue of bookable cultural activities aimed at preschools and schools. The catalogue currently includes circus, dance performances, author visits, musical theatre, theatre performances and various workshops within art and culture.

The site has taken shape based on requests from the two types of users – the cultural coordinators at the municipalities, who book cultural events for the schools, and cultural creators who want to reach out.

– The cultural coordinators have found it to be scattered, and that there has been no central place to find culture or a wider range. On the cultural practitioners side, things look very different. Some have good existing infrastructure and good networks to reach out, others are very alone in that. The cultural bridge then becomes a way into the school environment, says Annica Löfling, who leads the project at Region Norrbotten.

Annica Löfling, Region Norrbotten's cultural unit, is project manager for the Cultural Bridge.

The Norrbotten Region has many good reasons to invest in this. Article 31 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which is Swedish law, states that children and young people have the right to culture and leisure. And the curricula state that children should encounter art and culture as part of school activities. But fundamentally, it is about the reasons why the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the curricula look the way they do.

– There is a lot of research on why culture is important for children and for developing their abilities. It is learning and developing the imagination, new impressions and perspectives, a basis for conversation, says Annica Löfling.

“Greater width”

Not all families have the resources to take their children to performances and concerts, for example. Therefore, culture in school is part of the school's equalizing mission.

– The hope is that more children will have access to more culture, and a greater breadth of culture.

Norrbotten should have a rich cultural offering for all children and young people. For their development, participation and health.

Region Norrbotten is the main responsible for the site and the main financier. Ten municipalities have also contributed funds. The National Theatre has been helpful in the groundwork, as they have experience of similar catalogues in other counties.

Locally produced culture comes first

This first year with Kulturbron is a year to try your hand and learn. To be included in the catalogue of offerings, you must submit an application to Region Norrbotten. The idea is that these will be reviewed and assessed by selection groups with people who are knowledgeable in the respective cultural area. And although cultural actors in other parts of Sweden, and even abroad, can submit an application, there is a priority order.

– Culture that is produced in Norrbotten comes first. We want to promote locally produced art and culture.

At Kulturbron, those who want to book can filter by art form and the age group for which the activity is suitable. Once they have made their choice, they can send a registration of interest via the website.

Through culture, critical thinking, creativity and empathy are developed. That is why Region Norrbotten is stepping up its work with art and culture for children and young people. The Cultural Bridge is an important part of that work.

“Go in and make a wish”

Although the site is primarily aimed at bookers of cultural events at school, anyone can visit and take advantage of the offerings.

– If you are a student, you can go in and maybe make a wish. The same goes for a teacher or principal. It can also be interesting for a parent.

The Cultural Bridge is about ensuring that there is a large and broad range of art and culture in schools. That children and young people have access to all forms of art, many different artists and cultural creators. But in the future there may be more than that.

– We have visions for the future and see potential in the Culture Bridge. It would be great if in the future we could incorporate participation for children and young people in different ways, says Annica Löfling.

Text: Sara Stylbäck Vesa