We have every reason to be proud of the rich cultural heritage of our country. However, this is not something that can be taken for granted. Only by taking steps to encourage young people’s creative participation can culture remain alive and innovative in the future.

As part of the ‘U25 – Young Cultural Initiatives’ programme for emerging talent, Fonds Soziokultur e.V. supports projects whose creativity fascinates and moves even so-called ‘boomers’ like me. They are featured in this issue of Kulturszene. From recipes for care homes for the elderly and reinterpretations of artworks by Jewish artists from the Nazi era to poetry slams and a cultural festival in a rural area: this demonstrates the creative power that young people can unleash.

I would therefore like to express my sincere thanks to Fonds Soziokultur e.V. for their work. They are an indispensable player in promoting young people’s engagement with and participation in culture, and remain a key partner of the Federal Government Minister for Culture and the Media (BKM). As part of the BKM’s ‘JUGEND.macht.KULTUR 2026’ initiative, the BKM supports the nationwide programme ‘U25 – Young Cultural Initiatives’.

This youth initiative is primarily designed to support programmes that open up opportunities for young people to engage with art, culture and creative expression.

In this edition of the Kulturszene, Fonds Soziokultur e.V. offers us an insight into the projects that were carried out last year. It thus shines a spotlight on young people’s cultural engagement in all its diversity. The range is impressive; the projects span various disciplines and offer a wealth of perspectives on the world in which we live. I would like to thank Fonds Soziokultur e.V. and everyone involved for their dedication and ingenuity, and I am already looking forward to the new creative projects we will have the pleasure of experiencing in 2026.

Dr. Wolfram Weimer 
Minister of State for Culture and Media