1. Introduction - A Summary of Cultural Policy and Cultural Tools in
Berlin



Berlin is defined today as a city of cultures, yet its economic situation is
currently severely limited. The future of Berlin is foreseen by most specialists,
politicians, scientists etc. as being based in cultural developments. These
developments have been influenced over time, through the historical structures
of Berlin, where culture has always been a very central feature in the city.
Despite its foundation in cultural experience, Berlin has also been one of the
largest industrial cities of Europe - as was clear prior to the second world
war and even earlier than in the last century. Being known as an industrial
city, a likely location for obtaining work and a hub bub of cultural activity
– Berlin has naturally attracted many immigrants in the past. Hence, this
has led in part to Berlin being one of the many centres of immigration throughout
Europe for hundreds of years.



The city has a long tradition of having established cultural institutions for
immigrants. However, in the early sixties, this was forgotten as the first new
guest worker immigrants began moving into the city. At that time, Berlin was
divided in two sectors run by the Bolshevist Party in East Berlin and a regime
mixed of occupying forces and democratic structures of the Federal Republic
of Germany in West Berlin. Industry became highly subsidized since Berlin represented
an island, surrounded by the German Democratic Republic and defined at least
in West Berlin with its immigrants, as an enemy state. West Berlin was threatened
several times of potentially being occupied by Eastern troupes. Under this circumstances,
West Berlin was subsidized intensively and developed a wide labour intensive
industry: from the chemical industry, food industry, textiles and tobacco producing
industries to the development of electronic industries, where parts were brought
together to produce an end product.

In terms of industrial developments, it was quite an artificial milieu to which
the new immigrants moved. They took the advantage of getting high wages and
having a life between East and West. Immigrants arranged a part of their life
in the Eastern part of the city, which was cheaper and offered quite reasonable
opportunities for entertainment. While at the same time, In the West, the state
began subsidising international arts exchanges and developed the city towards
being an international meeting point for art and entertainment.



In the eighties and nineties, immigrants themselves, not general labour market
activities, set the trends in the immigration processes towards Berlin. During
this time, there was only one exception in the city and this involved the recruitment
of construction workers and labourers in the catering industry. For them, the
government established a new allowance for entry, which was called “work
contract immigration entry”. Most other immigrants moved to the city during
the eighties and nineties either as illegal immigrants, as family members or
as refugees of various kinds. Hence, immigration gates were opened for specialists
in many different fields. As a result, immigrants doing special work in restaurants,
university students and teachers, people in the entertainment sector etc. all
obtained special visas to fulfill these tasks accordingly.



Significant to Berlin, is the fact that until 1989 its economy had been separated
into two parts, with a very different structure. Whereas the economy in the
Eastern part depended mostly on the processing industry and the overall public
state administration, the economy in the Western part was mainly driven by small
scale industries (textile and light engineering precision-tools manufacturing)
and the service sector and apart characterised by heavy subsidies by the federal
government of Germany. Total unemployment before 1989 stood at around 10% before
in the Western part of Berlin. In the Eastern part of Berlin, unemployment was
not registered as full employment was granted by the Former Democratic Republic
of Germany.



With the German reunification the economic situation of Berlin changed considerably.
The former state financed heavily and the processing industry could not be sustained
anymore due to a lack of productivity and efficiency. Rapid privatisation of
the industry and the complete restructuring of the administration and public
sector institutions in the Eastern part of Berlin lead to large scale dismissal
and thus rising number of unemployment in the Eastern part. In general 1989
was a year when the third industrial revolution past its high times. It became
obvious that industrialization in any old-fashioned form would not be a means
of developing the eastern part of Germany. Therefore by various state programmes
it was tried to strengthen the service industry and third sector activities.
Today around one third (27%) of the working population in Berlin work in the
public and private service sector, followed by 16% in the sector of trade and
gastronomy, 12% in processing industry, 12% in the area of real estate and specific
services for enterprises and 11% in the public administration. Unemployment
has risen drastically after 1990 and still stands at around 17% in Berlin, with
large difference regarding the former Eastern and Western parts.



The largest inflow of immigrants coming to Berlin stemmed from German diasporas
in Eastern Europe, especially from the former Soviet Union territories. These
people were understood as German nationals and managed to obtain German passports
immediately. Most other immigrants were considered to be foreigners. It was
not until the late nineties that an intensive debate initiated a reaction, allowing
these immigrants to become nationalised as German citizens.



With the increase in numbers of immigrants being nationally recognized, came
an increase in the unemployment rate among immigrants. The second, third and
fourth generation of immigrants living in the city eventually assumed a rising
role in the immigrant milieus. Since the late seventies, many immigrants had
established cultural institutions as a source of entertainment for themselves.
Some of them, of course, were religiously motivated, while others were developed
as theatres, libraries, cabarets, restaurants etc.. The Turkish immigrant group,
which is still the biggest group of foreigners in Berlin, with 300,000 to 450,000
people with a non-German nationality, assumed an especially active role in creating
its own cultural entertainment activities. Following the closing of the Berlin
wall, the Turks adapted to life in Berlin and have become more or less denizens
(full citizens without having a passport) at large as far as the immigrant situation
goes



The consequences of post-modern economic developments intensified the cultural
boundary formation processes in Berlin. New immigration flows and processes
of cultural minority formations divided the urban population along ethnic lines.
Labour market niches, small business development and extended production lines,
illegal work in construction, catering and private are now common in Berlin.
Exclusion processes have changed not only the structure of urban life, but more
so systems of belief and values.



Berlin has not only many institutions organised by immigrants, but has many
cultural institutions on the local and central level, which serve the populations
from opera events, theatre events, concerts, pop events to various types of
museums etc. Music schools, for example, have been established. Branches for
oriental instruments and two Turkish music colleges for more advanced musical
students have also been established. Many artists from immigrant backgrounds
have in the meantime passed the art schools and art universities in the city.
In Berlin, there is a wide array of immigrant artists, both those who came extra
to the city on their own or those who came in groups of immigrant artists. Indeed
many immigrants in Berlin (most of whom come from middle-class backgrounds)
are engaged in such cultural realms.



Despite the obviously many performances with the presence of immigrant artists,
this does not necessarily mean that immigrant populations are involved in these
activities as actors or as partakers/consumers. In fact, the opposite is true.
Most immigrants are still pressed into lower ranges of society, with low educational
backgrounds and limited amounts of money, in an attempt to battle for the survival
of their families. The unemployment rate among immigrants is rising while at
the same time, the number of illegal immigrants is increasing. Immigrant life
in Berlin is becoming a problem for the immigrants, which has also been defined
as a problem for the state.



For several years now, many agencies in politics and sciences are discussing
the issue of integration and social inclusion. They believe that language competence
and labour market integration will be the best way of integrating immigrants.
However, many immigrants still don’t speak the German language and are
dependent on the idiom they brought with them. Additionally, a very high rate
of immigrants has been excluded from labour market institutions. Therefore,
the state, NGOs, immigrants institutions, research agencies etc. need to look
towards finding new forms of immigrant exclusion and inclusion, including the
development of new forms for immigrant mobilisation and campaigns against immigration
discrimination.



In this regard, Berlin presents an important role in providing examples of such
institutions, which might help immigrants to mobilise against their social exclusion
and for their economic improvement. However, as previously mentioned, the central
problem in carrying out exclusionary tactics involves the recognition of diversification
among immigrants themselves and in uniting immigrants from one level of society
with another level, and thus bringing together immigrants with high capital
with immigrants with low resources.



Compared to other German cities Berlin has the largest population of immigrants,
while Germany itself is now the largest receiving country of immigrants in the
European Union and has long been a country of immigration. After World War II,
the German labour market was filled with displaced people and those expelled
or forced to emigrate as a result of the war. These groups were quickly integrated
into the labour market and into society without any open ethnic discrimination.
The economic upswing in the 1950s and 1960s led to the introduction of a system
of labour recruitment from Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal and later Turkey and
other non-European countries, bringing thousands of new immigrants to Berlin.
In reaction to this wave, most welfare organisations in Berlin started to set
up special services for foreign labourers. The so called guest-worker system
came to a halt after the economic crisis in the early seventies. Family reunion
and chain migrations dominated immigration patters in the 1970s leading to the
settlement of large numbers of mainly Turkish families in Berlin. The immigration
of family members increased the costs and demands on the welfare state as well
as the need for integration measures, as it became clear that first generation
immigrants intended to stay longer than foreseen. From this point on, one can
observe the formation of self-help and other organisations aiming at the integration
of immigrants in Berlin. During the 1980s there was a marked increase in asylum
seekers from developing countries and the immigration of diaspora Germans from
Eastern European countries. Generous naturalization and integration measures
were made available to these groups. In Berlin special homes for diaspora Germans
were set up and due to a policy of financing integration for this particular
group, many new organisations developed. The radical changes in Eastern Europe
have intensified chain migration and brought increased numbers of diaspora Germans
to Berlin. After 1989 immigration and flight movements from Eastern Europe increased
generally.



2. Project Activities Development and Implementation in Berlin



To develop a kind of systematic understanding of the project contents, the central
institutions of the Berlin Cultural Network have selected particular institutions
who in turn have provided information about themselves, which is presented here
systematically.



2.1 Identified Institutions



It was necessary for this project to initiate contact with various institutions
throughout Berlin, who are committed to furthering the social inclusion and
integration of migrant ethnic populations. With this aim in mind, we established
a list of such institutions and have submitted it with this report. Please see
the address list in annex.



2.2 Bibliography about Culture and Arts



Because of the belief that culture and arts assume a vital role in improving
the situation of and integrating ethnic minority populations more fluidly within
society, it was decided that a bibliography about various cultural and artistic
possibilities for ethnic groups be included in this report. For more information
on this matter, please see annex.





2.3 Roundtables



Integral to this project were the roundtables, where the various city partners
met to discuss aspects of cultural tools and their relation to social exclusion
among ethnic minority populations. Each delegate provided detailed information
on his/her city as regards the social structure and indicators. Five main areas
were outlines in their city profiles, including the rationale, methodology,
pre-requisites, additionally, and proposed actions. Group participation was
important in this atmosphere of sharing and exchanging accounts regarding social
exclusion, discrimination, xenophobia and their possible links to one another.
In addressing the issues of “duality” in this sense, the participants
felt that the rationale should encourage individualism within communities, which
collectively could lead to diversity.



In addition to sharing information with partners, examining cultural developments
in each city, sharing transnationally and establishing a co-operation amongst
partners, the emphasis of the roundtables was to instigate ideas and solutions
linking the cultural tools with forms of social inclusion and integration. It
was agreed among the partners that a network amongst themselves should additionally
be established in order to learn and share from one another as far as approaches
in combatting against social exclusion already existed in the different cities.
Through this network, established by means of this project, such topics could
be further discussed and reports and publications with suggestions for integration
could be highlighted. The overall effort of the project was to ensure that inputs
and outcomes ensue through project partners› meetings, visits, and transnational
conferences so that idea, suggestions and recommendations pertaining to issues
and problems of social exclusion come about.



For more detailed information about the types of social exclusion found in Berlin,
see grid #1, Cultural Tools Project. For further information about the various
co-operation outcomes, see grid #2, Co-operation table. For further information
on the networks, see grid #3, Local & National stake-holders in the project.







1.Cultural Tools Project



Indicate 4 main expressions of social exclusion suffered by racial minorities
in your city and indicators you use to judge the degree of social exclusion
suffered by them-





Social Exclusion - Descriptions & Indicators:



City Name: Berlin

Types of social exclusion Brief description of social exclusion Indicators used
to judge extent of social exclusion

1 Employment & working conditions High unemployment and low salaries may
be one of the main reasons why foreign residents typically become self-employed
or open their own private businesses. Establish community political, business,
cultural, social & self-help organizations.

2 Education & language skills Reasons for high unemployment relates to education
possibilities for immigrants, as well as low school performance and difficulty
obtaining appropriate qualifications. German school structure is very hierarchical
and thus restrictive those with unstable living circumstances. Raise self confidence,
increase motivation for succeeding with goals for the future in mind.

3 Age Elderly suffer more from exclusion & isolation, resulting in higher
risk of illness & psychological issues. Unite diverse excluded groups together,
which channel anti-social tendencies.

4 Health & social welfare Often restricted access to German health care
system. Lack of health care needs pertaining to particular ethnic background
and social living conditions of minorities often disregarded. Poor economic
situation has negative impact on state of health of immigrants. Increase acknowledgment
& respect for diversity, building intercultural awareness among the groups.

5 Socio-economic circumstances Studies show that ethnic minorities and immigrants
have a higher risk of illness due to different stress factors, such as financial
problems and discrimination related to living standards. Improve relations between
ethnic & varying class groups

































2. Objective:



Co-operation between partners to combat social exclusion and promote inclusion.
(Using Cultural Tools)



Co-Operation Table



City Name Berlin

Co-operation encouraged: Berlin What form of co-operation takes place /planned?
Using which Cultural Tools?

1 The Craft Centre for Culture Addresses the diversity of cultural activity
in Berlin, acting as meeting point & cultural centre for self organisations
of various ethnic groups in the realm of intercultural exchange & understanding.
Folklore activities done by individual artists, hosting the “Berlin Carnival
of Cultures”, which involves parade with floats, traditional music, dance
& costumes from various groups.

2 The House of World of Cultures Organizes meetings of German & European
artists, workshops enabling different cultures to meet and work together &
attempts to take intense care of artists, giving guest performances. Through
“Heimatkunst” (Home art), migrant experiences & interests are
transferred into an art platform. Cultural festivals & language activities
act as additional tools.

3 SFB 4 MultiKulti Aims to provide migrants with a better orientation in Berlin
without giving up their own cultural identities, to further a better understanding
between Germans & ethnic minority groups. Integrating radio programme, involving
different ethnic groups, who present their political, social & cultural
issues publically in 18 languages via radio.

4 Schlessische 27 Youth Cultural International Art Centre Works with young people
living precarious situations, aims at promoting integration, fighting against
racism & promoting cultural diversity. In close cooperation with schools
which spend a week with artists developing cultural project, using theatre,
video, sculpture as mediums.

5 Turkish Cultural Ensemble Berlin, Diyalog e.V. Both professional & non-professional
actors perform with aim to show daily life of migrants in their country of emigration.
Through this, discussions encouraged, barriers & stereotypes broken down.
Theatre & drama performed bi-lingually (German-Turkish), depicting realities
of daily migrant life.

Notes:

The goal is to realize equality and social justice with regard to these multi-fold
ethnic groups through cultural activities and artistic events. These cultural
institutions aim to promote European and non-European cultures as well as activities
encouraging cultural exchange. Their activities concerning ethnic populations
is highly public and intended to support the conviction that ethnic minorities
in Germany tend to identify with their country of origin.















3. Objective: Create widest participation of local groups in the project,
local authorities etc.), and disseminate results as widely as possible.



Local & national stake holders in the projet



City networks established: Berlin Brief description - role players by city partners
in the project Quality of relationship developed with city partners

1 Berlin Senate Follows main guidelines of preserving & continuing cultural
activities & institutions, promoting creativity via fellowships for artists.
Due to extremely difficult financial situation of Berlin government and need
to reduce spending, many cultural institutes & associations have been forced
to close down. Unfortunately, there is little possibility for funding the arts
& cultural events.

2 Berlin Bezirksamt in Mitte Operated by local government, this vocational training
& community college, offers migrant populations opportunities in completing
formal education & in acquiring qualifications. The local community is responsible
for learning centre, which migrant population can benefit from if they choose.



3 Publicata e.V. Promotes publicity for the improvement & cooperation of
the well-being of foreigners. It offers social cultural counselling and advocacy
for both German & foreign youth in addition to raising computer skills among
the foreigners. In cooperation with the Berlin Foreign Affaires Office (Ausläänderbeauftragte),
additional services in the realm of leisure activities, intercultural work in
youth summer camps, and computer training courses are available.

4 Counselling Services for Social Integration of Non-EU Citizens & Migrants
Provides counselling & advocacy services to foreign citizens and migrants,
who have received extended permission to stay in Germany. They assist in assessing
the foreigners› situation & integration in Germany. In co-operation
with Information & Coordination Circle & Employment Services e.V.

5 Babylonia e.V. Association for Improving Understanding Among Humans Language
courses are offered to further the intercultural communication via dancing,
singing, sharing political & cultural experiences & engaging in anti-racism
and ant-sexism trainings. Relations to other organisations hosting similar programs
is vital for networking and bringing about changes in social inclusion and integration.

































2.4 Interviews



Naturally, a bulk of the information for this project came from the interviews.
The interviews, essentially, reaffirmed the points stating in the previous sections
and verified that cultural tools can be used to combat social exclusion of ethnic
groups and to aid in their integration into the mainstream society.



2.5 Analysis and Conclusion



Following the partner exchanges and interviews, the information collected regarding
cultural tools in the various cities and their connection with combatting social
exclusion were reviewed and analysed. It was determined that collective and
individual approaches to community integration were vital in defining culture.
By illustrating diversity, unity and integration, examples of cultural tools,
such as dance, music, drama, theatre, games, hobbies, drama, festivals etc.
initiated by ethnic migrant groups, themselves, could improve and facilitate
a base for individual and collective cultural cohesion. Although, the three
areas of discrimination, social exclusion and the lack of social cohesion in
an everyday reality is not always easy to separate as they tend to overlap one
another.



By reviewing the various city descriptions and outcomes from the meetings and
interviews, best practice examples were chosen to highlight the success of cultural
tools positively impacting ethnic migrant populations to access political, social,
economic or financial power, yet still maintain their own cultural identities
and values, rather than being forced to assimilate to the dominant group. In
using cultural tools, ethnic populations felt empowered to themselves become
politically active, use their voice and devise their own associations, which
further encourage their own social inclusion and involvement within the city.
Thus, these cultural tools clearly assume a role in integrating ethnic groups
into mainstream society.



2.6 Future Networks Extending Beyond this Project



The continuation of partnerships and networks throughout Europe is significant
for the success of future integration and social inclusion of ethnic minority
groups into mainstream society. It is particularly important that contacts within
Berlin continue and extend beyond this scope of this project in order that these
concerns be further addressed and solutions found.



In Berlin, the attempt to increase and link contact organizations and agencies,
dedicated to combatting discrimination and social exclusion of migrant populations
was not particular easy since the city is so large. Another problem which made
this further network difficult was due to the fears of Berlin organizations
to work together. Too often, certain ethnic groups are too busy struggling with
their own problematic and are not willing to compare themselves or cooperate
with other disadvantaged groups. Despite these obstacles, however, an obvious
need can be seen to pursue future efforts, similar to those undertaken in this
project. A need for further individual and institutional change exists.



2.7 Transnationality Learning Experiences



Through the transnationality exchanges with the different project partners,
examples could be observed, comparisons made and possible recommendations for
improvement in the field of integrating ethnic groups better into mainstream
society could be suggested. Additionally, new ideas for possible cultural tools
resulted from the experiences made already in partner city institutions. Through
this, we could gain new concepts and eventually even apply them to particular
Berlin situations, which are somehow similar. Naturally, we could not adopt
every suggestion due to the different projects and structures in place from
city to city. Due to Berlin›s rather hierarchical structure, some of the
tools used in England, for example, would likely not work as successfully in
Berlin. It was helpful through this transnational exchange to consider for the
future what could successfully bring about positive change and what approach
could be truly applicable. Please see the attached grid Transnationality - Learning
Experience for more information.











































































































Transnationality Learning Experience





Brief description

(a)



Main tools from your city, which see to offer learning value to others



Berlin 1. Identifying exclusionary practices & seeking ways in which to
include minority groups in community projects through cultural & artistic
tendencies, such as theatre.

2. Due to centralized structure of top-down approach in German government decision
making processes, more attempts to activate self-help political organizations
for minority group must ensue.

3 Language barriers, high unemployment, inability to use qualifications acquired
elsewhere & a threat of the unknown contribute the most to social exclusion
in Berlin.

4. Cultural tools can be used as a channel for anti-social tendencies to be
directed towards group building. This can, furthermore, create confidence, diversity,
unity, & integration.

2



Cultural Tools from other cities which had learning value for you



Rotterdam 1. Hollands provided examples of many integration schemes geared toward
good community practices & fundamentally set up in recognition of the need
to include minority groups in social & economic activities as regards education.

2. Organizing festivals & comparing the situation at the place before and
after the institutionalization of the festival in order to seize changes.

3. Planning a Hindu festival raises self-esteem, awareness and knowledge regarding
this ethnic group.

4. Engaging neighbourhood mentors to organize music and song festivals relevant
to the cultural groups living there.

3



Modena 1. Addressing diversity issues in Italy presented a new awakening for
inhabitants, a change, which is often met with community resistance.

2. The main cause for social exclusion of ethnic minorities from mainstream
community was due to lack of adequate immigration documentation.

3. Involving immigrant families, especially second generation immigrants in
cultural activities vital for initiating activity in political realm.

4. Combatting discrimination and empowering migrants groups necessary in initiating
cultural policy aimed at reducing social exclusion.

4



Southwark Council 1. The UK›s best value approach ensures transparency
& accountability by service provision authorities, involving participation
from the community at large.

2. Targeting elderly, mainly Afro-Caribbean women, the Golden Oldies Community
Care Project uses published material such as recipes, poems and health advice
remedies to reach people culturally.

3. Offering street dancing to particular ethnic groups, such as black young
women, drama & dance can be used spontaneously to raise pride in themselves.

4. Using drama to address issues of female circumcision to educate the public
of this reality.

5

Turin 1. Through the Kukus Clan, involving tourists in the area to transfer
positive images of traditional dance, music, food etc.

2. By using the laundromat, people have chance to present their pictures at
the laundry exhibition..

3. Drawing on the history, performing Romeo & Gulietta and involving Italian
& immigrant student groups in a co-operative effort.

4. Offering both Italian & Arabian teaching for free at Ikma, enables people
to engage in popular Arabian cultural activities & exhibitions.

dances, concerts, games, hobbies, drama, etc. facilitate a base for individual
& collective cultural cohesion.













1. Outcomes and Research Results



The project “Cultural Tools (CulTol)” aims to increase the understanding
surrounding cultural integration measures and to empower and expand the possibilities
for cultural institutions, run by immigrants and for immigrants, in various
European cities. The Berlin case is quite complicated since various institutions
have been developed here. But most of these are oriented towards a small group
of immigrant intellectuals. The bigger cultural institutions, focussing on a
wider public realm, find themselves in a problematic situation. The “House
of World Cultures”, for example, has changed from a centre in which young
people and people with immigrant background previously had the possibility of
doing popular and folkloristic arts into a centre, which has developed as an
expression of global arts and global artistic developments. It is now one of
the most important infrastructure arrangements in Berlin for contemporary cultural
activities. Indeed, it has some very important activities in terms of powering
children against racism and discrimination and in helping in the development
of what might be called, citizens recognition of the foreign culture.



On another note and representing quite a different approach, the “Craft
Centre for Cultures” was a place, which from the beginning, was established
to be part of the immigrant populations activities. It was not so much a centre
for integration as such, but a centre in which all immigrants members could
carry out cultural activities. It was very much dependent on the new management.
Under this management, it established a wide range of cultural activities meant
to address and highlights issue surrounding marginalised and excluded migrants,
coming from over seventy different nations. Pop cultures and folkloristic events
were part of its cultural programme. People were trained to join artistic and
cultural training events and performances. Furthermore, it developed special
integration programmes such as, for example, a biography writing movement or
the “Multi-Cultural Carnival”, which has become one of the most
central and important cultural events in the city.



Granted, despite these successes, there have been some weaknesses, such as the
fact that the House of Cultures has not been recognised by established artists.
Consequently, it is not a place where art is understood as a highbrow activity.
On the other hand, artists from all over the world and artists from very minority
and autochthonous population backgrounds have begun joining activities at the
centre. The Craft Centre for Cultures is now by far the most important integrative
feature of immigrant and endogenous encounters in Berlin. Many unemployed immigrants
as well as those people suppressed in the employment market have been coming
and participating in these events. This, in turn, has resulted in the Centre
for Culture and in developing self-esteem for excluded people as well. Additionally,
it has initiated the implementation of a vocational training at the centre and
in the catering area and thus it has been successful in connecting its cultural
work with labour market integration.



The Carnival of Cultures itself confirms that Berlin is a multi-cultural city.
However, it is based on an idea of culture as a festival. This helps to present
various parts of folklore, pop music and performances. It highlights and portrays
the high esteem existent throughout many population areas in Berlin. Indeed,
it offers a meeting point for many groups from immigrant backgrounds, who attempt
to protect and further develop what they understand as their own cultures in
terms of dance performances, art, music, theatre etc.



“Radio MultiCulture “, on the other hand, has been successful in
promoting cultural tools via its established radio station as it provides an
alternative to the usual radio programmes. In contrast, its programme is made
and promoted by immigrants themselves. Hence, it gives a platform for the articulation
for various members of the immigrant groups. This is a development, which can
include private and local television stations and radio stations as well. This
has the effect that many people are now recognising the diversity of cultures
existent in Berlin. Radio MultiCulti provides immigrants with various possibilities
for integration into society in terms of information, cultural highlights and
the presentation of cultural events. For the immigrant community, this enables
a place with higher identification. On the down side, however, Radio MultiCuliti
is still an institution with very low numbers of immigrants involved.



The “Schlesische Straße 27” is an example of cultural activities
currently run throughout various parts of Berlin. The “Schlesische Straße
27” is one of the most developed and most active groups in this realm.
Its goals are to reach children and young people with an immigrant background,
who are engaged in cultural activities and artistic work. The whole centre is
now one of the most esteemed places of cultural politics in Berlin.



The “Türkisches Kulturensemble Dialog” is known as being a
basis for various activities. It has a German and immigrant audience and is
acts as a meeting place for Turkish immigrants intending to gather with artists.
It is also a place which empowers immigrants to attempt to create their own
art. More so, it is a background for many other youngsters, who commonly associate
with this kind of Turkish institution. For instance, it is considered to be
one of the many centres now, promoting Turkish cultural network activities,
which has established itself as a cultural umbrella institution dealing for
all these sub-institution active in Berlin. Such places are increasingly becoming
the bridgeheads between immigrant cultural milieus and communities and other
social formations in the city. They represent places at which young people are
recognised and can further raise their self esteem, develop their own ethnic
consciousness and identity. It is a place where life plans are communicated
and where possibilities in the labour market and wider society can be debated.



All over Berlin now, such places are in the making. Additionally, commercial
coffee houses for youngsters are being established. Together with these infrastructures
of retreat, the many cultural places in Berlin are becoming more and more important
for an integrated model of adopting towards the social fabric of the country
of settlement.



In order to clarify what is stated above, please see the following description
of cultural tools in Berlin for further reference to some best examples for
combatting social exclusion in Berlin. See the attached grids Annex 4 and 8
Cultural Tools as well.







































Annex 4



CULTURAL TOOLS IN - Berlin, (Chosen for analysis) :



EXCLUDED PEOPLE INVOLVED FORMS/ EVENTS

(Cultural) OBJECTIVES OF STUDY WEAKNESSES OF CULTURAL TOOLS SELECTED STRENGTHS
OF TOOLS SELECTED

Active

Impact Passive

impact

• Ethnic minorities generally



• Refugees and asylum seekers



• Ethnic minority women, sustaining double disadvantage due to race and
gender To examine the strength of Cultural Tools to prevent and combat discrimination,
and to break barriers between communities : Selected tools :

• Annual Carnival of Cultures festival

Excludes Asylum & Refugee population Excellent celebration of diverse cultures
and traditions.

• Art Projects at House of the Cultures of the World

Low impact on individual exchange level Interdisciplinary approach reaches wide
multi-cultural group. Through art, stereotypes reduced.

• Presentation of various cultural music styles via radio

Reaches mainly audience already interested in cultural diversity Highly reputable
with and popular multicultural appeal.

• Youth Art & Cultural Centre Under marketed Tremendous power to confront
racial prejudices and increase self confidence of youth.

• Turkish Cultural Centre interactive theatre ‘

Limited impacts in terms of audience size Very didactic, addresses a large variety
of cultures and communities and successful in overcoming language barriers.

















Cultural Tools Observed during project implementation :



In your view value gained.

1

Music reggae, rap, Bhangra, Arabish, Yiddish & Turkish music, Asian Vibes,
Gayhane

2

Poetry Slam Poetry, May Ayim, Aziza-A, the club for polish losers

3

Dance Salsa, Turkish folkdance, Capoeira, belly dancing, Argentinian tango,
samba

4 Film / Documentary material Bharan, Kanack attack, Alltag, What Are You Looking
At, Lola und Billidikid

5

Cuisine Indian, Turkish, Lebanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Moroccan, Italian

6

Sports football, Taekwondo, Eskrima

7 Esoteric systems Afro-Brazilian Afoxé-cult, Shamanism lectures, Buddhist
centre (e.g. in Frohnau) & Hindu centres, Krishna temple, Yoga centres

8

Conferences Diversity & intercultural trainings, carnivals, community outings

9

Published materials Ecological concerns, Lola Press, Agisra, Latin American
News



















































CULTURAL TOOLS PROJECT - PROJECT PROPOSALS BERLIN

1. HOUSE OF WORLD CULTURES - HAUS DER KULTUREN DER WELT





Description:

The House of World Cultures is a government institution aiming to present international
art. Even though it understands itself as a highbrow institute, it also includes
activities of immigrant interest, for example in the series “Heimat Kunst,”
in which migrant experiences and its transfer into arts is shown.

The establishment of the House of World Cultures in the year 1989 goes back
to the initiatives of members from the Federal Parliament, who thought that
Germany needed a place where national cultural institutions of foreign states
could present their culture in the Federal Republic.

The House of World Cultures was founded as a platform for non-European cultures
living in Berlin and the whole of Germany. The primary aim is to present foreign
cultures in all outward forms and kinds of media: in the arts, in music, dance,
theatre, literature, film, and in science. Special interest is devoted to contemporary
representations of foreign cultures, and because emphasis is put on the views
and opinions of the members of these cultures they themselves are always directly
involved in the projects of the House of the Cultures of the World.

The House of the Cultures of the World organises meetings of German and European
artists, workshops that make it possible for different cultures to meet and
work together, and it tries to take intense care of artists who give guest performances.


The programme of the House of the Cultures of the World is divided into three
departments:

• literature, society, and science;

• the arts, film, and media;

• music, theatre, and dance.

As the primary interest is the experience of (inter)cultural relations, these
three departments work closely together and try to relate different single events
to each other in the context of an overall theme. The aim is to work out interdisciplinary
programmes which make clear the inter-cultural relations in the context of different
aspects and different media.



The "House of the Cultures of the World“ is a member of the "European
Arts Committee“ (EAC) in which similar European organizations are united
in order to co - ordinate their work. The House offers its worked out programmes
to other organizers on the national level, and it organizes respective tours.




House of World Cultures - matrix



Forms/Events see description/matrix

• Selected tool organisation as a whole as the majority
of events is situated on a similar level, therefore difficult to choose a special
event with a special interest concerning the aims and questions of the project

Impact

• Active highbrow audience, German and EM, adults and children,
artists

• Passive family, friends, parents of audience, wider public
in Berlin, on a national and international level via media

• Interaction

minority/majority • workshops for adults and children

• meetings of German and foreign artists organised

• on cultural policy

Excluded People involved artists, intellectuals, of EM

Objectives

• proclaimed • presentation of international art with
the self-understanding of a highbrow institute

• focus on non-European cultures

• presentation of foreign cultures in all outward forms and kind of media

• focus on contemporary art

• experience of (inter)cultural relations

• own perception

Weaknesses • reaches a multicultural public which is mainly
academic or specially interested in art

• relatively low impact on an individual exchange level (less workshops
etc. than expositions, film festivals ...)

Strengths • emphasis on the views of the artists

• interdisciplinary approach

• able to reach a wide public

• high media impact

• high reputation

• focus on individual artists can contribute to reduce stereotypes

2. CRAFTS CENTRE FOR CULTURES - WERKSTATT DER KULTUREN IN BERLIN



Description:



The Werkstatt der Kulturen, a governmentally institutionalised activity, today
is the centre for immigrant cultures from folklore activities towards "high"
arts done by individual artists, which are specially supported by the Werkstatt
der Kulturen. Not folkloric expressions of migrant configurations but individual
artists were the central focus of these Werkstatt der Kulturen.

In 1986 the Commission for Foreigner Affairs established the craft centre for
cultures - Werkstatt der Kulturen as a kind of meeting point and a cultural
centre for self organisations of different ethnic groups. It became however
an institution of multiculturalism in so far as it expressed by its work the
diversity of cultural activities in Berlin and by taking the arts of the diverged
ethnic groups as a serious issue. It is a non - profit making institution supported
by the Berlin Senate.

The primary aims are a better understanding between the different cultures living
in Berlin, and the reduction of social disintegration and discrimination. The
Werkstatt der Kulturen supports initiatives of groups and individuals whose
aim it is to bring people of different cultural origins and characters together
in order to learn from each other and to find and to test new ways of living
together.

The Werkstatt der Kulturen is

• a place for leisure - time activities for children, young
people, and adults;

• a workshop for (inter)cultural experimenting and designing;

• a place for exchange and dialogue in the context of single or regular
meetings and events;

• a place for education and enlightenment;

• a central venue;

• an international Berlin meeting place.

Its main activity today is the “Berlin Carnival of Cultures”,
which is a major event and mobilising thousands of people from different immigrant
communities and from the German side. The Craft Centre decided to initiate the
Carnival to face low audience sizes and therefore to organise an event "in
the street". In fact, the Carnival developed to a major event in Berlin
and attracted about half a million visitors in 2000 with 70 nations and more
than 4000 people participating.







Crafts centre for cultures - matrix

Forms/Events see description/matrix

• Selected tool Carnival of cultures as a special tool.
It is the main event of the Centre and the second important event in Berlin
(in terms of audience size); career of the event; is seen (or at least presented)
as a symbol of a new, multicultural Berlin; interest is to test the real impact
of the event on stereotypes and inclusion;

Impact

• Active audience, EM and German, adults, children, teachers,
trainers, multipliers etc.

• Passive social environment of audience, wider public in
Berlin and on a national level via media

• Interaction

minority/majority preparation of carnival during the whole year by Germans and
EM (50% each), Germans and EM spectators

• on cultural policy supported (insufficiently) by the Berlin
Senate: influence on it?

Excluded People involved ethnic minorities groups from 70 different nations

Objectives

• proclaimed • better understanding between different
cultures living in Berlin

• focus on individual relations as an instrument to get to know the other

• reduction of social disintegration, potential violence and discrimination

• establishing contact to groups hard to reach (youngster coming from
a xenophobe environment etc.)

• own perception

Weaknesses • Totally excluded people like refugees are
not involved

• Multicultural "show", mass event reflecting in no ways the
political and social reality of a non-existing multi-cultural society

• presentation of exotism (refused by groups participating but: mainstream
society interested mainly in exotism?)

• no impact on the political level (to be verified)

Strengths • large spectre of social realities of EM involved
(professions etc., but mostly immigrants who have been staying in Germany for
years, are covered by a residency status and often come from bi-national marriages
)

• all age groups (adults, youngsters, children).

• Carnival is presented as a sign and symbol of existing multiculturalism


• high reputation in public, press and amongst politicians

• expresses the diversity of cultural activities

• Examples of intercultural dynamics: growing participation of groups
(e.g. Turkish) which weren't interested in the beginning

• individual learning effects

3. SFB 4 RADIO MULTIKULTI



Description:



In September 1994, SFB 4 MultiKulti started its work as a multicultural integrating
radio programme for the migrant groups living in Berlin. SFB 4 MultiKulti wants
to fulfil a double function: with its programmes it wants to provide migrants
with a better orientation in Berlin without giving up their own cultural identities,
and it wants to contribute to a better understanding between Germans and ethnic
minority groups.

Until the establishment of Radio MultiKulti different minority groups had only
a place in the general radio programmes of the West German Radio programs. Now,
a special programme was developed, in which these different communities had
a place to present them individually. This radio programme was conceived as
a kind of focus for minority populations, but it developed towards a kind of
multicultural and integrational institution, in which the different groups were
able to present their political, social and cultural issues towards the wider
public.

The proclaimed aims of Radio SFB 4 MultiKulti are:

• to help migrants living in Berlin to keep and live according
to their cultural identities,

• to inform its audience, and to stress programmes which offer service
and orientation for foreign listeners,

• thereby to contribute to the integration of ethnic minority groups.


SFB 4 MultiKulti offers programmes in 18 different languages, and all these
programmes are directed by native speakers. The programmes in foreign languages
are broadcast from 17.00 till 22.00 o‘clock each day. The German part
of the multicultural programme starts at 6.00 a.m. and end at 5.00 p.m. It aims
at all listeners who are familiar with the German language.

With its "music from all over the world“ SFB 4 MultiKulti wants to
bridge gaps between different cultures. None of the ethnic groups must be excluded,
but with music the programme wants to inform about different musical cultures,
too. Programmatic aim of SFB 4 MultiKulti is to employ above all foreigners
as editors and planners: all in all people from 31 different nations are employed
by SFB 4. Recently, SFB 4 MultiKulti has started to train young migrants and
thereby to qualify them as journalists. It takes part in a project "More
Colours in the Media“ by the Grimme Institute in Marl: within this project
20 young female migrants were trained to become editors.

Concerning music, the radio station has a high influence on the
Berlin cultural scene. The world music scene in Berlin (and Germany more generally
speaking) reflects however in no ways the reality of Germany as an country of
immigration. The main ethnic groups are Turkish, Polish, Ex-Yugoslavian, Vietnamese,
or Russian, whereas the public interested in world music comes mainly from the
German middle class and prefers Brazilian, Cuban or Spanish sounds. The German
world music scene therefore shows little linkages with main ethnic groups living
in the country.



Radio MultiKulti - matrix

Forms/Events see description/matrix

• Selected tool organisation as a whole, with a special
focus on impact of employment policy

Impact

• Active employees German and EM, audience German and EM

• Passive social environment of employees and audience,
wider public

• Interaction

minority/majority place where people from different cultures work together

audience through listening and participating in activities

• on cultural policy

Excluded People involved different EM

Objectives

• proclaimed • to provide migrants with a better orientation
in Berlin and simultaneously to keep ant live according to their cultural identities

• to inform its audience, and to stress programmes which offer service
and orientation for foreign listeners

• thereby to contribute to the integration of ethnic minority groups

• to contribute to a better understanding between Germans and ethnic minority
groups

• employment of foreigners as editors and planners

• own appreciation

Weaknesses • reaches mainly a public interested in intercultural
issues

• low percentage of young Turkish audience who prefers radio stations
like Metropol FM, offering oriental pop and news in Turkish

Strengths • high reputation

• concerning music, the radio station has a high influence on the Berlin
cultural scene