Regensburg's youth demands freedom: petition for cultural center started!

Regensburg's youth demands freedom: petition for cultural center started!

Regensburg is experiencing a new attempt to revitalize an empty department store. The former department store on Neupfarrplatz has been deserted for over a year, attracting various groups to the scene. The politically left-wing initiative “Aufbruch” has now started a petition calling for this building to be converted into a self-managed youth and cultural center. Loud Central Bavarian The center is intended to be organized by teenagers, young adults and local residents and to provide space for creative projects.

What do the initiators have in mind? In addition to graffiti workshops and a skate hall, the new location is intended to help reduce conflicts between skaters and residents. Aufbruch sees the center as a sustainable place for cultural and social exchange and emphasizes the need for a free space for young people. A survey among Regensburg citizens has shown that the need for such a cultural place is high. So far, 240 supporters have already spoken out in favor of the petition online (as of Thursday, 4 p.m.).

Empty spaces and new ideas

The activists plan to set up their information stand next Saturday at the Ex-Kaufhof in order to win more votes for their cause. However, it remains unclear how the responsibility, operational management and financing of the center should be regulated. Similar self-managed centers in other cities show that such projects are often financed through a mix of city funds and private donations. Organizationally, these projects are usually supported by associations or full-time employees.

Regensburg already offers a number of youth centers that cover different requirements. For example, the JUZ Arena is located in the southeast of the city and offers an outdoor area for sporting activities. The municipal youth center Guericke in the urban east offers a varied leisure program. Other institutions such as the W1 – Center for Young Culture in the heart of Regensburg create space for cultural development by young people. These existing offers show that Regensburg is already doing a lot for its youth, without negating the need for an additional, self-managed center.

The role of self-governing centers

In the discussion about the importance of self-managed youth centers, recent publications, such as the study "Self-managed youth centers - a natural part of the leisure infrastructure for young people or a relic from bygone times? Empirical evidence", indicate that such facilities are losing importance in the German specialist discussion, although they still exist. The authors of the study, published by Beltz Juventa, emphasize the need to examine the autonomy and self-organizing characteristics of these institutions in order to better assess their future. The fact that it remains unclear how many such centers exist nationwide casts a shadow on the planning and implementation of new offers.

It remains to be seen whether the “Aufbruch” initiative will have the desired success and whether the former department store can be transformed into a lively center for young people. However, one thing is certain: the need for cultural spaces for young people remains unbroken.