KAOS e.V. (Kultur für Alle Osnabrück)

About us

The association KAOS (Culture for All, Osnabrück) was founded in February 2012, is on the register of associations of the town of Osnabrück and recognized as charitable by the tax office. It coordinates and plans the issuing of KUKUK cards (Art and Culture Support Cards), which were launched on February 1, 2013. Our work includes the acquisition of cultural operators, the signing of detailed implementation agreements with them, communication measures (website, brochures, flyers) to promote KUKUK among the target group and sponsors, as well as the provision of organisational structures and their financing.

KAOS issues the KUKUK card, with which people in lower income groups (those on benefits) from the town and district of Osnabrück can attend cultural events for 1 Euro (children for 50 cents) . The response from the recipients is impressive. After more than five years there are already more than 3,700 KUKUK owners, and over 2,000 individual cultural visits a year with KUKUK cards show how important cultural experience is for these people and their social integration.

Three aspects of our concept::
• Event Visits: The diversity of the offerings of cultural operators that recognize KUKUK cards enables users to gain a broad and comprehensive picture of our culture aswell as to particpate socially. Currently there are more than 100 participating institutions in the city and district of Osnabrück, from the theatre to the warehouse, several music festivals (such as the Euregio and the Morgenland festivals) and many museums.
• culture ACTIVE!: choirs, dance groups, painting classes, etc. invite people with the KUKUK card to become active in their cultural work. e.g. the music and art school of the city of Osnabrück and the Hull dance school. This is where the social, people-connecting aspect of culture comes into its own.
• Culture pilot project: Culture is there for everyone - that's why citizens are involved as "Osnabrück's cultural guides" in order, together with guests interested in culture, to overcome hurdles that stand in the way of cultural enjoyment. How do I get tickets for the concert? How do I organize the trip to the venue? How do I find my way around the museum? The culture guides accompany those interested in culture with linguistic, health or other obstacles to the events in order to give them orientation and security. Thus, e.g.new arrivals, handicapped people or senior citizens participate in Osnabrück cultural life! Especially good to see: meanwhile even refugees are working as cultural guides!

The initiative is almost unique in Germany - since 2008, only in Frankfurt has a similar concept been implemented. The KUKUK enriches the social life of the Osnabrück region in many ways:
• Cultural organizers reach new target groups.
• Social partners motivate people to cultural participation.
• Sponsors and supporters can take on social responsibility by promoting our project through the provision of financial resources.
• People who otherwise could not afford it can participate in social and cultural life with responsibility and dignity.

Max Ciolek is the initiator and CEO of KAOS (Culture for All, Osnabrück).

On request we can offer other net participants advice, give a presentation, and provide up-to-date information and contacts in the field of our work. Other ways to help: Start-up assistance for those interested in starting a similar initiative.