Young Council for the museum's Youth Section
The Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum in Cologne has taken a significant step towards involving young people in shaping its future, by establishing a Children and Youth Council. This initiative, announced on June 26, 2025, by Anne Meyer, aims to foster cultural participation and engagement among younger audiences.
The Council provides a platform for children and youth to contribute their perspectives on exhibitions, programs, and museum activities. This integration of youth voices is expected to make the museum more relevant and accessible to its younger audience.
The formation of the Council is part of a broader trend in museums to incorporate youth culture and perspectives, enhancing educational outreach and community involvement. The Council is designed to empower young people to co-create and influence cultural content and museum programming. It also aims to build skills in critical thinking, cultural awareness, and leadership among its members.
The Council members will have unique opportunities to gain insights into the museum's depot, restoration workshops, or archives. They will also develop tours at the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum, allowing them to share their perspectives with other visitors.
The Council is open to all interested parties between the ages of 8 and 20. The children and young people for the Council are from the Integrationshaus association in Kalk. The details of what else the Council will do at the RJM will be decided by the Council members themselves.
The Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum, known for its ethnological collections and engagement with global cultures, is using the Council to encourage active, participatory learning and connection between youth and diverse cultural narratives presented in the museum. This aligns with contemporary museum practices of involving children and young adults as key stakeholders in cultural institutions.
Cologne's museums have various offers for kids, including the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum. The RJM offers special tours, workshops, child-friendly audio guides, or rallies to make museum visits exciting for kids. With the addition of the Children and Youth Council, the RJM is set to offer even more engaging and interactive experiences for its younger visitors.
The Children and Youth Council at the Rautenstrauch-Joest-Museum offers a platform for members to contribute their ideas about lifestyle and home-and-garden exhibitions, integrating youth voices to make the museum more relevant for its audience. As part of their duties, council members will develop tours focusing on these themes, offering unique perspectives to visitors.
