The history of the youth art schools in Baden-Württemberg is closely linked to Prime Minister Lothar Späth. Since then, the number has grown and the demand has increased. But there are also gaps.
Stuttgart (dpa / lsw) – The number of art schools in Baden-Württemberg could soon grow to 50. Eight initiatives wanted to become art schools at the moment, said the managing director of the state association of art schools in Baden-Württemberg, Sabine Brandes, of the German Press Agency. “We’re trying to close the white spots.” She cited the north-east of the country on the border with Bavaria and the Black Forest as examples. There are gaps, especially in rural areas. Parents wouldn’t necessarily drive their kids 25 miles for a two-hour art class, Brandes said.
The association lists 42 art schools on the Internet – from Konstanz to Mannheim, from Ulm to Baden-Baden. Before the corona pandemic, around 55,000 young people would have taken advantage of the offers every year. Contrary to what one might think, these are not just girls, said Brandes. A recent textile art workshop for 14 to 20 year olds, for example, was half occupied by boys and young men.
The demand is generally very high, said the managing director. “Baden-Württemberg could use as many art schools as NRW.” With around 70 to 80 youth art schools, North Rhine-Westphalia has almost a fifth of the around 400 facilities nationwide, according to the local state working group for cultural education services.
According to the association, in Baden-Württemberg they go back to Prime Minister Lothar Späth (CDU). In the 1970s, he pushed the expansion of the youth music school landscape. “Music schools have a very different historical tradition here,” Brandes said. So there is a lot more of it. In 1988, Späth suggested the pilot project “Youth Art Schools”. Initially, there were eleven models in eleven municipalities with different focal points and sponsors, including the Bodensee district, Karlsruhe and Nürtingen (Esslingen district). Over time, more and more schools were added.
For example, they offer artistic projects in kindergartens and schools, educational programs and holiday offers and work with refugees. Special talents are awarded the Baden-Württemberg Youth Art Prize. People aged 15 to 21 can submit artistic works for the 26th round until May 15th. The motto this time is “rethought”.
40 percent of the costs would be covered by the municipalities and the parents, said Managing Director Brandes. About 8 percent came from state funding, the rest from third-party funds. 90 percent of the employees are freelancers. “Really professionals teach here.”
