1. Hamburg Cultural Summit: Strengthening democracy through cultural education!

<ol> <li>Hamburg Cultural Summit: Strengthening democracy through cultural education!</li> </ol>

On November 25, 2025, the 5th Hamburg Cultural Summit took place in the Körberhaus in Bergedorf - for the first time in the east of Hamburg and with almost 450 participants from the areas of education and culture. The mood was characterized by curiosity and the urge to create new impulses for local cultural work. The event was held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and offered a platform for teachers, students and cultural workers to exchange ideas on topics such as democracy and cultural education. Education Senator Ksenija Bekeris highlighted the central role of cultural education in promoting democracy and emphasized the need to create spaces for participatory processes.

The main theme of the cultural summit was “together!”, which brought back memories of the previous cultural summit, whose motto was “Democracy” last year. The summit served as a sociable meeting place with a variety of workshops and a stimulating exchange format called “Neunmalklug”, where discussions could be held at nine tables with experts from administration and cultural institutions. Current cultural education projects from the Culture and School Project Fund were presented here, which help to make art easier for everyone. To encourage participation, participation in the event was free.

A varied program

The well thought-out program offered the participants numerous highlights. After a warm welcome, there was a presentation by the school on the Veddel and a keynote speech by Marina Weisband. The morning part was filled with various workshops and project presentations that covered important topics such as conflict competence, digital formats and feminist democracy. Formats such as “TikTokTactics” and participatory installations, which are intended to encourage young people to raise their voices in society, were particularly popular.

After an invigorating lunch, further workshops took place in the afternoon, and the event ended with an artistic “wrap-up” where participants were able to reflect on the day’s impressions over a cup of coffee. The participants were consistently enthusiastic about the creative approaches and the opportunity to exchange ideas with like-minded people.

Funding and support

The cultural summit was financed by the city and received additional funding from foundations such as the Alfred Toepfer Foundation and the Claussen-Simon Foundation, as well as the Gabriele Fink Foundation, in cooperation with the Körber Foundation and the Dürr Foundation Hamburg. This support makes it possible to organize and further expand such significant events for the local community.

In another part of the world, the political situation in Brazil is causing excitement. Former President Jair Bolsonaro was arrested on November 22, 2025, making international headlines. This arrest was classified as preventive in order to prevent possible disturbances to public order. Bolsonaro, who has been under house arrest since August 2025, is facing serious allegations, and his son Flávio had organized a vigil on the day of his arrest. Such events show how much political issues can influence cultural work and that the exchange about democracy and social participation is important worldwide.