With almost half of the Luxembourg population being of foreign origin, “cultural integration and intercultural mediation are imperative for social cohesion”.[1]
At the national level, the promotion of access to and participation in culture is seen as a powerful factor for social cohesion and is therefore an intrinsic element of cultural policy in Luxembourg. “Nevertheless, the notion of ‘culture for all’ is not so simple to apply. In Luxembourg, as elsewhere, not everyone participates in cultural life, not everyone has access to it and there are many reasons to this. It is therefore necessary to act on several levels at the same time to remedy this.”[2] One of the objectives in implementing the current Cultural development plan (KEP) is thus to establish an accessible and inclusive culture by developing active participation and cultural citizenship with a view to improve social cohesion.[3]
At regional and local level, culture is also seen as an “instrument for strengthening social cohesion in regions and cities.[4] The city of Esch-sur-Alzette, for instance, being one of the two municipalities so far that have adopted a local cultural development plan, specifically targets social inclusion through culture as one of the objectives in its plan entitled “Connexions”, based on the Agenda 21 for Culture. The regional cultural centres are also of special importance with regard to cultural decentralisation policies. “Regional cultural centres are becoming increasingly important due to the growing percentage of the immigrant population and the emergence of cultures specific to certain groups. The centres offer platforms, where different cultures find their place and can express themselves. They are places that different social groups (ethnic groups, youth groups, senior citizens (…) can identify with. The offers of the regional cultural centres promote the knowledge and experience cultures nearby and far away. They encourage reflection and mutual acceptance and thus contribute to social cohesion.”[5]
Some cultural institutions also signed the Luxembourg Diversity Charter, a “national commitment text proposed for signature to any organisation in Luxembourg wishing to commit to diversity promotion and management though concrete actions that go beyond legal obligations. (…) Structured around 6 articles, it guides organisations in the implementation of practices that promote cohesion and social equity through networks, workshops and conferences, involving all their employees and partners”.[6]
Best-practise cases (non-exhaustive list):
Cultur’all. Starting in January 2010, the non-profit organisation Cultur’all introduced the “Kulturpass”/Culture for All passport. With the support of the ministry of Culture, the ministry of Family, Integration and the Greater Region and the National Solidarity Fund, its aim is to offer easier access to cultural and leisure events for socially disadvantaged individuals and groups. The Kulturpass thus allows people on low incomes and applicants for international protection to participate in Luxembourg’s cultural life by guaranteeing access to activities organised by the association’s 75 cultural partners at a reduced rate (€1.50) or even free of charge for museums.
Fondation EME. In addition to its actions in favour of people with disabilities (see point 2.5.6), the EME Foundation’s varied and inclusive programming is aimed at socially disadvantaged people and regularly offers concerts by various ensembles and groups of professional musicians, some of whom are members of the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, in Luxembourg’s hospitals, paediatric wards and nursing homes.
HARIKO is a project of the Luxembourg Red Cross and offers creative workshops to young people between the age of 12 and 26 to be creative, to experience and to discover various forms of art, aiming particularly at young people for whom art is often difficult to access.
Creamisu. Initiated and run by Caritas Accueil et Solidarité, this is a space in Luxembourg City dedicated to artistic expression of all kinds for people experiencing homelessness.
In 2016, the artist Frédérique Buck initiated the awareness-raising campaign I am not a refugee, which aims to give a voice to refugees who have arrived in Luxembourg. [7] She also subsequently made the film film Grand H: “Three years after what is commonly referred to as the ‘migration crisis’ of 2015, Grand H (for Grande Humanité) addresses the conflict between migration policy and Humanity as a question.” [8]
Urban Art Esch is an artistic, educational and participatory project that the Kulturfabrik organises jointly with the city of Esch-sur-Alzette and that “seeks to turn the urban space into an arts laboratory, and hopes to develop dialogues with all audiences, and most particularly with the local community. The project also works towards social inclusion, by establishing pluridisciplinary, inter-generational, participative and inclusive workshops in parallel with realisation of the works.”
[1] Kulturentwécklungsplang eBook 1.0 – Septembre 2018, Volume 1, p.155
[2] Kulturentwécklungsplang eBook 1.0 – Septembre 2018, Volume 1, p.153
[3] https://mc.gouvernement.lu/fr/Organisation/Orientation_strategique.html
[4] Kulturentwécklungsplang eBook 1.0 – Septembre 2018, Volume 1, p.135
[5] https://www.reseau.lu/manifeste
[6] https://chartediversite.lu/en/pages/quest-ce-que-la-Diversite
[7] https://lequotidien.lu/a-la-une/im-not-a-refugee-les-refugies-du-luxembourg-se-devoilent-dans-un-livre/
[8] https://www.frederiquebuck.com/films
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