Culture defies Corona: Financial support for 23 new cultural projects in Münsterland

A total of 823,500 euros in funding from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia will flow into art and cultural projects in Münsterland in 2022. Last year, the region's cultural practitioners applied for funding through the state's "Regional Cultural Policy" (RKP) programme. Out of 30 applications, 23 projects were finally selected by the Münsterland Cultural Council for funding this year - the same number as in the years before the pandemic.

"The mix of established projects, which of course are constantly evolving, and new formats and actors makes it extremely exciting again this year," says Andre Sebastian, head of the cultural office at Münsterland e.V., which advises cultural practitioners on the application process. "We are pleased that the region was able to maintain the level of previous years with 30 applications received and 23 projects approved, because the effects of the pandemic have also left their mark on the cultural scene. We wouldn't have been surprised if fewer projects had been submitted this time."

The content-related topics are as diverse as the artistic genres: from the established music format in gardens and parks, the haunting of old culture in the present, portrait painting in the selfie age to giant whale tail fins protruding from fields in Münsterland.

For the first time, the actors also had the opportunity to apply for so-called "supplementary funds for accessibility" in addition to funding in principle. Andre Sebastian explains what is behind this: "With up to 5,000 euros of additional funding per project, the state of NRW wants to support the equal participation of all people in cultural life. Our applications include, for example, interpreting events into German sign language, the use of wheeled bicycles for people with limited mobility or a film version with subtitles for the deaf."

Who receives funding?
In addition to well-known projects such as the "Münsterland Festival" or the "Trumpet Tree and Violin Fiddle" series, new formats by well-known actors are also in the starting blocks. For example, the new project of Reset e.V. with the promising title "Freubad" is heading for the outdoor pools in Münsterland this year and the rock'n'popmuseum Gronau is devoting itself to the cultural phenomenon of disco.

New artists and cultural practitioners will also come into contact with the RKP funding programme for the first time this year: the film collective "wdnnw - wenndienaturnichwill" will shoot "Wild Wild Westfalen (working title)", probably the first Low German short western, and the artists' group Mannstein + Vill will create in their participatory project "Paste Up History! photo collages with historical and contemporary references on selected house facades in the district of Steinfurt. Under the title "We are Rincklake. Portraiture in the Selfie Age", three historical cultural institutions in the district of Warendorf are cooperating.

The MNEME collective with Charlotte Petersen is being funded for the second time this year. Petersen underlines the opportunities for culture despite Corona: "Besides the experience of isolation and standstill, the last two years have often also led to a return to one's own basic artistic idea. Many artists can now state much more clearly where they want to start with their art and culture than before the pandemic. Through the Regional Cultural Policy, we at MNEME collectively are given the opportunity with our interactive performance series 'No Man's Land' to take up this point and develop a project that invites people to experience dance theatre not only visually but also in their own movement experiences."

The Kulturrat Münsterland had recommended the projects for funding in autumn 2021, and the Münster district government and the Ministry of Culture and Science are expected to approve them in the next few days.

www.regionalekulturpolitiknrw.de

www.muensterland.com/regionale-kulturpolitik

Further information on the NRW Regional Cultural Policy funding programme
With its Regional Cultural Policy, the state government supports cultural projects in all ten cultural regions of NRW in order to strengthen the profile and identity of the regions. Cooperation and networking are emphasised: At least three cultural practitioners from two towns or municipalities in the Münsterland region jointly develop a project with a regional connection and carry it out together. The application deadline is always 30 September. The Münsterland e.V. cultural office advises interested cultural workers before and during the application process. The funding programme celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.