The conference 2025 will address the challenges and opportunities for cultural organizations interacting with young people – adolescents and young adults from the age of 14 upwards. Active engagement with cultural activities, artistic and creative content are important components of healthy adolescent development, supporting young people’s personalities and opportunities for a self-determined lifestyle. At the same time including young people offers the organizations new opportunities in shaping innovative program and education formats as well as and new forms of co-creation, participation and inclusion. What do we know about how young people value these encounters and how to facilitate them well? What are the challenges and opportunities of working for and with young people? Answers to these questions require an understanding of young people’s cultural experiences, values and preferences to build on these insights and shape meaningful experiences and mutual learning opportunities together.

To explore these challenges the Institute für Kulturelle Teilhabeforschung (Institute for Research on Cultural Participation | IKTf Berlin) in collaboration with the Institute for Learning Innovation (USA) will bring together experts, researchers, and practitioners from the global cultural sector for discussion and exchange.

Conference Design

The international biennial conference will provide inspiring discussions and productive interactions between its various participants and facilitators. There will be a minimum of “talking heads” and a maximum of interaction and participation. We seek to create a facilitating and stimulating atmosphere with a strong dialogical approach. We invite you to gain relevant experiences and insights both for your research and professional practice. Taking on more of a workshop feeling you will learn from experts and your colleagues from around the world.