NEWS
"When norms become invisible, everything else becomes foreign."
We invited CEOs from the culture sector to a conversation about the future of volunteering.
In December 2024, Cultural Volunteers invited a number of key players from cultural and sporting events in Copenhagen to an important conversation about the volunteering in culture – with a particular focus on access to the volunteer communities in the cultural sector.
Read more about the symposium's content below, or join the conversation on LinkedIn here.
"When norms become invisible, everything else feels alien."
Recently, we gathered a number of key players from cultural and sporting events in Copenhagen for an important conversation about volunteering in culture – with a particular focus on access to the volunteer communities in the cultural sector.
As volunteers, we seek the communities where we can reflect ourselves, feel acceptance, and experience that we can contribute positively. But how well do we grasp what norms apply in these communities? For whom are they invisible – and for whom do they stand out clearly? Who is included – and who is excluded?
On the day, Moussa Mchangama from In futurum presented his perspective on the mechanisms behind inclusion and exclusion in volunteerism within culture. At the same time, Cecilie Johansen from Kulturens Analyseinstitut shared exciting insights, among other things, about how volunteerism at Danish music festivals unfolds at different levels of community.
These insightful presentations created a current and relevant professional framework for the ongoing dialogue of the day, where our chairperson, Hakon Elliott Mogensen, guided the discussion on how we can create a more diverse and inclusive volunteering culture.
We are very grateful for all the reflections and perspectives shared throughout the day. They will help shape our work moving forward, and especially the question of access – and the lack of access – to the volunteer communities is now even sharper for us.
A thousand thanks to all three speakers. And a special thanks to all the participants who showed up and contributed experiences, ideas, and reflections: Danmarks Cykle Union | Cyklingdanmark, Københavns Kommune, Danmarks Idrætsforbund (DIF), Karens Minde Kulturhus, Kulturhusene i Danmark, Copenhagen Pride, Historiske Dage, Alive Festival, Food Organisation of Denmark, DGI Storkøbenhavn and A Summer Day at Bellahøj.
Finally, thanks to Villa Kultur, whose beautiful ballroom set the scene for an inspiring day – even with the winter darkness outside.