Transition & Transformation:
Cultural Strategies & Cultural Concepts

Transition & Transformation describe processes of changing society in a global and local context. Since these processes of change also have cultural dimensions, cultural strategies and cultural concepts are required. CULTURE CONCEPTS has developed such strategies and concepts in different contexts.

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke, Ralf Ebert (2016/2017):

Mapping der Kulturlandschaft sowie Entwicklung einer Arbeitsgrundlage für eine nachhaltige Kulturstrategie der documenta Stadt Kassel

Study on behalf of documenta city Kassel. Projektleitung: Dr. Cornelia Dümcke

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke; Spike, John T. (2010):

Making Culture Work. Expert Note on the National Cultural Policy Strategy Malta 2010

Evaluation on behalf of the Council of Europe

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke (2013)

Transition Zentrum Tanz in Deutschland (TZTD)

Projektstudie zur Modellentwicklung. Im Auftrag der AG Transition und soziale Aspekte und der Ständigen Konferenz Tanz e.V.

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke (2013)

Workshop zur Gründung der Stiftung Transition Zentrum Tanz in Deutschland

Moderation und Dokumentation des Workshops. Im Auftrag der AG Transition und soziale Aspekte und der Ständigen Konferenz Tanz e.V.

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke (2010)

GRENZÜBERSCHREITUNGEN
zu Praxis und Perspektiven der internationalen Vernetzung lokaler Kulturprojekte

Werkstattgespräch Fonds Neue Länder am 26./27. Oktober 2010 in Bad Muskau.
Im Auftrag der Kulturstiftung des Bundes.
Konzeption, Moderation & Dokumentation: Dr. Cornelia Dümcke

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke / Kristina Volke (Hrsg.) (2006)

Entwicklung gestalten – Perspektiven für den kulturellen Wandel in Ostdeutschland

Workshop und Dokumentation im Auftrag der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (BKM)

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke (2010)

Projekt Fortschritt in unterschiedlichen Kulturen

Konzeption, Moderation und Dokumentation der Deutschen Fortschrittskonferenz auf Gut Gödelitz

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke / Nicolette du Plessis (2009)

Regional Art & Culture Programme of the Swiss Development Agency (SDC) in Southern African Region (Südafrika, Zimbabwe, Mozambique)

Evaluation und Strategy für the programm phase 2010-2013
(Report in English, Co-Autor Nicolette du Plessis, Durban)

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke (2008)

Art & Culture Programmes of the Swiss Development Agency (SDC) in Central Asia (Usbekistan, Kirgisistan, Tadschikistan)

Evaluation und strategische Beratung für die Programmphase 2007-2010
(Report in Englisch)

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke (2007)

Kunst und Kulturprogramme der Schweizer Direktion für Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit (DEZA) in Südosteuropa und Ukraine

Evaluation und strategische Beratung für die Programmphase 2008-2010

Masterplanning & Feasibility Studys for cultural buildings

One focus of CULTURE CONCEPTS' work is master planning and feasibility studies with a focus on archaeology in advance of investment decisions for the construction of visitor centres or for the implementation of new exhibition and presentation concepts. For this purpose, the CULTURE CONCEPTS office has developed a modular system in cooperation with Karl Karau from kk-architekten, which includes both a visualisation of the planned measures and the estimation of expected visitor numbers, follow-up costs during operation, operator concept and investment costs.

Master plans and feasibility studies have been carried out on behalf of ministries, foundations or state offices for archaeology and monument preservation in the federal states of Saxony-Anhalt (master plan for the Nebra sky disk, master plan for battlefield archaeology in Lützen, master plan for Stiftsberg Quedlinburg), Lower Saxony (Palaeon Research and Experience Centre Schöninger Speere) and the state of Brandenburg (feasibility study for Lusatian bronze cradle).

The special quality of the working group (ARGE) of CULTURE CONCEPTS & kk-architekten in the area of master planning and feasibility studies is reflected in the rapid implementation of the planning.

ARGE CULTURE CONCEPTS & kk-architekten (2004)

Machbarkeitsstudie Touristische Erschließung der Saale-Unstrut-Region, Konzeption zur Errichtung  eines Besucherzentrums zur Präsentation der bronzezeitlichen Himmelsscheibe von Nebra

Opening of the Visitor Center Arche Nebra in 2008.

Find out more
Link to the Website of Arche Nebra

Photos of the site of the Sky Disc and photo of the Goseck Solar Observatory

ARGE CULTURE CONCEPTS & kk-architekten (2009)

Machbarkeitsstudie zur kulturellen und touristischen Erschließung der bedeutenden archäologischen Funde (Schöninger Speere) im Braunschweiger Land

Eröffnung des paläon - Forschungs- und Erlebniszentrum Schöninger Speere im Jahr 2013

Find out more
Link zur Architektur des Forschungs- und Erlebniszentrums Schöninger Speere

ARGE CULTURE CONCEPTS & kk-architekten (2010)

Machbarkeitsstudie Archäologie und Tourismus im Spreewald: Auf den Spuren der Burger Bronzewägelchen von 3000 Jahren (Lausitzer Kultur)

Machbarkeitsstudie im Auftrag der Spreewälder Kulturstiftung

ARGE CULTURE CONCEPTS & kk-architekten (2012)

Projekt Stiftsberg in Quedlinburg – UNESCO Weltkulturerbe –Masterplan zur Nutzungs- und Präsentationsentwicklung

Implementation ongoing

ARGE CULTURE CONCEPTS & kk-architekten (2013)

Machbarkeitsstudie Schlachtfeldarchäologie und Errichtung eines Besucherzentrums zur Schlacht bei Lützen

Implementation ongoing

Applied Cultural Research in the Culture and Creative Sectors

Knowledge of change processes is important for the design of cultural processes. Applied cultural research can contribute to this. Cornelia Dümcke has published a series of studies and reports in the field of culture and creative industries, either alone or in cooperation with colleagues and companies with different expertise and geographical origins (Germany, England, Russia, Hungary, Czech Republic, Spain, Austria etc.). Research reports and studies are published both in English and/or in German.

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke (2015)

New Business Models in the Cultural and Creative Sectors  (CCS) in Europe. Short Report

On behalf oft he European Commission, Directorat General Education & Culture. In the context of the membership in the European Experte Network on Culture (EENC).

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke, Zora Jaurova, Peter Inkey (2014)

Opportunities for Creative Sectors (CCS) to ACCESS Finance in the EU – Short AnAlytical Report

On behalf oft he European Commission, Directorat General Education & Culture. In the context of the membership in the European Experte Network on Culture (EENC). Author Team with Zora Jaurova and Peter Inkey, Project lead: Dr. Cornelia Dümcke

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke, Freda Matassa (2012)

Valuation of Works of Art for Lending and Borrowing Purposes

On behalf of the European Commission, Directorat General Education & Culture. In the context of the membership in the European Experte Network on Culture (EENC). Author Team with Freda Matassa. London/Berlin 2012. Project lead: Dr. Cornelia Dümcke

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke, Dipl.-Ing. Ralf Ebert (2013)

StadtLandKultur – Museumspartnerschaften zwischen Stadt und Land

Studie im Auftrag des Bundesamtes für Raumordnung sowie des Bundesministeriums für Infrastruktur und Städtebau.
In Arbeitsgemeinschaft (ARGE) mit Ralf Ebert, STADTart Dortmund. 2013

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke, Dipl.-Ing. Ralf Ebert t (2015)

Optimierung der Kooperationen der Museen in der Euregio MaAs-Rhein (EMR)

Studie im Auftrag des Zweckverbandes Region Aachen. In Arbeitsgemeinschaft (ARGE) mit Ralf Ebert, STADTart Dortmund. Projektleitung: Dr. Cornelia Dümcke

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke (2007)

Musikfestivals im Freistaat Sachsen: Grundlagen und Handlungsstrategien für die Gestaltung der Förderpraxis

Studie im Auftrag der Ostdeutschen Sparkassenstiftung im Freistaat Sachsen und der Kulturstiftung des Freistaates Sachsen

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke (2007)

Die darstellenden Künste im Spiegel der Kultur- und Kreativwirtschaftsberichte der Länder und Städte in deutschland

Studie im Auftrag des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Technologie sowie der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien im Rahmen der Initiative Kultur- & Kreativwirtschaft der Bundesregierung

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke, Dipl-Ing. Ralf Ebert, Prof. Dr. Klaus Kunzmann (2007)

Kreativräume in der Stadt – Integration von Kunst, Kultur und Co. in die Berliner Stadtentwicklung

Studie im Auftrag der Senatsverwaltung für Stadtentwicklung Berlin (Kurzfassung)

In 1997, sociologist and writer Francois Matarasso, based in England, presented a much-noticed study: "Use or Ornament? The Social Impact of the Participation in the Arts". As a result of the study, he proposed a list of 50 indicators to prove the social and societal effects of art. The research outcome has been cited frequently since then. In the Anglo-American-speaking world, countless evaluations of art and cultural projects have been carried out on their social and/or economic effects. In Germany, this development is now taking place with a time lag. Not everything can be evaluated and measured. However, if culture is financed with public funds, evaluations are required under certain criteria.

The evaluation approach of CULTURE CONCEPTS is based on both theoretical knowledge and many years of experience in the field of cultural institutions, programs and processes in the public, non-profit and private sectors. If possible, it combines evaluations with strategic consulting and learning processes.

Link to the lecture text by Cornelia Dümcke
"Evaluation in the cultural sector between politics, economy and culture”
Annual Meeting of DeGEval, Society for Evaluation from 10 to 12 October 2007 in Dresden

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke (2018)

Pilot Study International Cultural Policy of the Dutch Government in Germany. Development of an indicator based monitoring and evaluation system.

Pilot Study on Behalf of the Dutch Embassy in in Berlin and the Dutch Ministry of Culture and the Dutch Ministry of international Affairs

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke, Veronika Ratzenboeck (2014):

Allianzen & Symbiosen. 10 Jahre departure und die Kreativwirtschaft in Wien

Im Auftrag der Wirtschaftsförderung Wien. In Kooperation mit kulturdokumentation – archiv für internationale kulturanalysen. Wien. Oktober 2014

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke (2015)

DANCEFONDS HERITAGE – Fonds for artistic projects in teh dance scene – an Initiative of the Federal Kultural Foundation(KSB)

External Evaluation, Study published in German and English

German
Project link

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke, Gabriele Naumann-Maerten (2015)

Externe Evaluation der durch das Land Sachsen-Anhalt institutionell geförderten Vereine und Verbände im Kulturbereich

Im Auftrag des Kultusministeriums des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt.
Projektleitung: Dr. Cornelia Dümcke

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke (2012)

Landesinitiative Sachsen-Anhalt und das 18.Jahrhundert

Evaluation und Strategieentwicklung des Museumsnetzwerkes LSA 18.
Im Auftrag des Museumsverbandes des Landes Sachsen-Anhalt e.V. sowie des Kultusministeriums Sachsen-Anhalt.

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke (2009)

Evaluation Artlink – Büro für Kulturkooperation in der Schweiz

Evaluation und strategische Beratung im Rahmen der Neuorientierung der Kulturstrategie der Schweizer Direktion für Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit (DEZA).

Below you will find a selection of moderations for different clients.

Moderation in German and English.

Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Dialogue Meeting on Gender Based Violence (GBV) against Women in Lao PDR

Workshop on behalf of GIZ on 14th March 2018 in Brussels. Moderation in English. (30 participants)

Workshop on DuTch International Cultural Policy in Germany

Workshop on 21th February 2018 in the Dutch Embassy in Berlin. Moderation in English. (20 participants)

UNESCO Diversity Convention: Diversity under Threat?
A debate from performing arts perspectives

Workshop, Moderation on behalf of International Theatre Institute (ITI) Worldwide and ITI Germany, ITI World Congress in Segovia in June 2017. Moderation in English. (70 participants)

Perspektivenworkshop Künstlernachlässe im Freistaat Sachsen

Perspektivenworkshop Künstlernachlässe im Freistaat Sachsen (2017). Tagesmoderation. Im Auftrag des Sächsischen Kultursenats, des SMWK und des Landesverbandes Bildende Kunst in Sachsen. (100 participants)

Memory, Identity and Creativity

Memory, Identity and Creativity. Conference Moderation on behalf of INTERARTS and European Commission, DG Research & Innovation; see www.culturalbase.eu; Moderation in English. (250 participants)

Social Security of Visual Artists in Europe

Social Security of Visual Artists in Europe. Workshop, Moderation and Documentation of Results. On behalf of Beauftragte für Kultur und Medien (BKM) und Bundesverband der Bildenden Künste (BBK). Moderation in English. (80 participants)

Kultur. Macht. Einheit. Kulturpolitik als Transformationspolitik

Moderation des Forum „Den Wandel gestalten“ im Rahmen des kulturpolitischen Bundeskongresses. Agenturen der kulturellen Transformation“. Im Auftrag der Kulturpolitischen Gesellschaft e.V. (200 participants)

Kulturpolitik und Kultur-und Kreativwirtschaft

Kulturpolitik und Kultur-und Kreativwirtschaft (2013). Moderation des Panels „Kultur nach Plan“ im Rahmen des kulturpolitischen Bundeskongresses. Im Auftrag der Kulturpolitischen Gesellschaft e.V. (200 participants)

CULTURE CONCEPTS was founded by Dr. Cornelia Dümcke in Berlin in 1991. CULTURE CONCEPTS works project-related with permanent and freelance employees as well as in working groups with other agencies and companies.

The office specialises in project development, organisational consulting and evaluation in the field of culture and creative industries and related policy areas (cultural policy, development policy, city and regional development) in regional, national and international contexts. In addition to empirical cultural research and methods of evaluation, many years of experience in the fields of moderation and mediation are applied.

Clients of CULTURE CONCEPTS in Germany are public institutions of the federal government (BKM, BMWI, BMZ, GIZ GmbH, Kulturstiftung des Bundes etc.), of the federal states (ministries of culture and the arts) and of municipalities and foundations (Stiftung Nord LB, Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz etc.). Clients outside Germany include the European Commission, the Council of Europe, UNESCO Paris, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Pro Helvetia and others.

On the basis of many years of experiences in project development and consulting in Germany and internationally, our self-image can be summarized as follows:

Project developments must start from the concrete questions and are not to be developed on a "meta-level". Standardized expert advice that does not know and take into account the specific local situation often misses the intentions of the client and the specific task as well as the need for transformation and development.

The more precisely the subject of the project development and consulting can be determined in advance in agreement with the client, the better the result of the programme and project support. This also includes the specification of the clearest possible framework conditions by the client as well as role clarification between client, contractor and project participants and the target groups in the project.

The prerequisite for every programme and project monitoring is a serious assessment of the initial situation, which, in addition to the specific location conditions of a city or region, also takes note of and takes into account the results of the concept development to date as well as regional and supraregional cooperation and communication.

Benchmarks for cultural institutions should only be set up where they make sense and are suitable as methodological instruments for generating further knowledge.

For sustainable implementation processes, longer-term horizons are usually required. There is often a need for moderation and mediation for decision-making and implementation processes. CULTURE CONCEPTS prefers participatory procedures in programme and project support and in advising cultural institutions and their supporters. A large number of successfully implemented reference projects can be referred to.

Dr. Cornelia Dümcke is a cultural economist and works as a project developer, arts consultant and moderator. She is the founder of CULTURE CONCEPTS - an independent institute based in Berlin, providing research services and moderation and mediation for actors in both the cultural and the development sector. Her thematic specialisation focuses particularly on issues of culture and development, cultural economy, cultural tourism, as well as on the museum, theatre, dance, opera and festival market.

In the past, she was commissioned by international development organisations and foundations for evaluation and curating Art and Culture Programmes in different world regions (Eastern Europe, Central-Asia, South African Region). From 2011 till 2015, she was nominated to the pool of experts in the field of cultural policies, set up by UNESCO Paris in the context of the implementation of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.  Since 2011, within her position as a member of the European Expert Network on Culture (EENC), she has conducted several reports on specific issues within the Cultural and Creative Sectors in EU Member States. 2015/2016 she was commissioned as a moderator within the project CulturalBase.eu which had a specific focus on Memory, Identity and Creativity in Europe.

Cornelia Dümcke is member of the board of the Institute for Cultural Policy (Bonn) and of the Austrian Kulturdokumentation – international archive for cultural analyses (Vienna). Since 2016, she is member of the advisory board of German UNESCO Commission in the context of the implementation of the 2005 Diversity Convention. She is one of the facilitators of the Foundation Dance - Transition Center Germany, established in 2012 as a public-private partnership. She further supports the foundation as deputy chairwomen of the board of trustees.

In 2016, Cornelia Dümcke was nominated for the International Theatre Institute (ITI) Worldwide as ITI representative at the UNESCO Cultural Diversity Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) meetings in Paris. In 2017, she was member of the editorial team of the first CSO Activity Report 2017 in the context of the implementation of the 2005 UNESCO Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.

Since 2015, on behalf of the European Commission, Directorate General for Research & Innovation she is assessing cultural heritage projects in Europe.

It's the interest in people that drives me.

Pictures from Cornelia Dümcke

Below you will find a selection of our clients.
We have assigned these to the following areas:

International Organizations

Public & private foundations & companies

other clients at federal, state & municipal level

Art & cultural institutions

International Organisations 

• Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Bonn, Germany

• Dutch Embassy in Berlin

• Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Bern, Swiss

• GIZ, Berlin, Germany

• German Commission for UNESCO, Bonn, Germany

• Council of Europe, Strasbourg

• European Commission, Directorate-General for Education and Culture, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, Brussels, Belgium

• Goethe Institut

• INTERARTS, Barcelona, Spain

• International Theatre Institute (ITI) Worldwide, Paris/Shanghai

• Arts Council Malta

• Dutch Embassy in Berlin

• Federal Cultural Foundation

• ITI-Germany, German Center of the International Theatre Institute

• East German Saving Bank Foundation

• Culture Foundation of the Free State of Saxony

• Foundation for the Sorbian People

• Foundation Centrum Judaicum

• Investment Bank of the State of Brandenburg

• Unilever Germany

• Bleiche Resort & Spa

• Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media

• Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy

• Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure

• Dachverband Tanz Deutschland

• Explore Dance

• Ministries of Art and Culture of the German States: Senate of the City of Berlin, Senate of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Ministry of Science, Research and Culture of the State of Brandenburg, Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of the State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, State Ministry of Science and Art of the Free State of Saxony, Ministry of Education Saxony-Anhalt, NRW Cultural Secretariat / North Rhine-Westphalia

• Cities and municipalities: Aachen, Brandenburg, Dresden, Dortmund, Greifswald, Görlitz, Hagen, Kassel, Neubrandenburg, Olbernhau, Potsdam, Prenzlau, Schwedt, Stralsund, Unna, Rostock, the city of Wolfsburg, Wandlitz, Wittenberg; Culture area Upper Lusatia Lower Silesia, district Märkisch-Oderland

• Saxon Museum of Industry special purpose association

Art & Cultural Organisations

• Agricultural Museum Wandlitz

• Bureau Ritter

• Cabaret Die Kneifzange, today Kriminaltheater Berlin

• Culture Quarter Schiffbauergasse Potsdam

• Free Theater in the State of Brandenburg

• Gerhart Hauptmann Theatre Zittau

• German-Sorbian Folk Theatre Bautzen

• Hans Otto Theatre Potsdam

• Museum Jan Boumann in the Dutch Quarter in Potsdam

• Museum complex Saigerhütte Grünthal-Olbernhau

• Music Theatre Görlitz

• Music Theatre Unna

• Open Air Museum Altranft

• Opera Houses in Berlin: German Opera, Comic Opera, State Opera

• Saxon Museum of Industry | Energiefabrik Knappenrode

• Saxon Museum of Industry | Tuchfabrik Gebr. Pfau Crimmitschau

• Staatsoperette Dresden

• Theatre Augsburg

• Theatre Brandenburg

• Theatre Bremen

• Theatre Dortmund

• Theatre of the West, Berlin

• Theatre Production Location Schloss Bröllin e.V.

• Theatre Rostock

• Theatre Vorpommern Stralsund / Greifswald

• Uckermärkische Stages Schwedt

• Volksbühne Berlin e.V.

Below you will find a selection of publications by Cornelia Dümcke that have been published in cultural policy and cultural media in the last three years. These publications are independent of studies and reports on this website. The publications are in German or English.

CORONA UND KULTUR: EINE INTERVENTION

Veröffentlichung in Deutschland und sein Geld, Öffentliche Finanzen zwischen Anspruch, Alltag und Krisen, 2022, Hrsg. Ringo Wagner / Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung

https://library.fes.de/pdf-files/bueros/sachsen-anhalt/19175.pdf

Download PDF

Kulturpolitik neu I gestalten. Zum Zweiten UNESCO-Weltbericht 2018

Veröffentlichung in Kulturpolitischen Mitteilungen Nr. 160, I / 2018, Hrsg. Institut für Kulturpolitik der Kulturpolitischen Gesellschaft

Entwicklung und Nachhaltigkeit für Kultur

Veröffentlichung in Kultur weiter denken. Das Magazin von Kultur Management Network, Nr. 132 | April 2018

https://www.kulturmanagement.net/Magazin/Augabe-132-Zukunft-der-Arbeit,97

Kulturelle Vielfalt: gestärkt oder bedroht? Eine Betrachtung der UNESCO Konvention über den Schutz und die Förderung der Vielfalt kultureller Ausdrucksformen (2005) aus Perspektive der darstellenden Künste

Veröffentlichung im Jahrbuch 2017 des Internationalen Theaterinstituts (ITI) Deutschland (in Deutsch und Englisch)

https://issuu.com/itigermany/docs/iti_jahrbuch_2017_issuu_i

The role of Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs) in aiding sustainable development: a UNESCO debate.

Veröffentlichung in Economia Della Cultura, Mailand.

https://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.1446/89463

Kulturelle Vielfalt: gestärkt oder bedroht? Zusammenhang mit der Umsetzung der UNESCO Konvention zur kulturellen Vielfalt von 2005

Veröffentlichung in Kulturpolitischen Mitteilungen Nr. 157, II / 2017, Hrsg. Institut für Kulturpolitik der Kulturpolitischen Gesellschaft

Gespräch mit Olaf Schwencke und Jürgen Marten. Zwei zivilgesellschaftliche Akteure der ersten Stunde – Rückblick und Ausblick, Interview

Veröffentlichung im Jahrbuch für Kulturpolitik 2016/16, Band 15, 2016, Thema: Transformatorische Kulturpolitik, Hrsg. Institut für Kulturpolitik der Kulturpolitischen Gesellschaft

Europa der Regionen. Kulturerbe im Kontext europäischer Entwicklungskonzepte. Keynote. Jahrestagung des Deutschen Museumsbundes. 

Veröffentlichung in Museumskunde, Band 81, Deutscher Museumsbund, 02/2016

CULTURES OF TRANSITION: The dangers of dissonance
(Arbeitstitel)

Buchpublikation in Vorbereitung

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