Bonn receives state prize for cultural education – 15,000 euros in funding!

Bonn receives state prize for cultural education – 15,000 euros in funding!

The city of Bonn can be happy! On January 16, 2026, Minister Ina Brandes presented a coveted funding notice of 15,000 euros on behalf of the North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Culture and Science. Bonn was honored for its outstanding “communal overall concepts for cultural education,” which facilitate children and young people’s access to art and culture.

“Cultural education is the key to developing talents and interests,” emphasized Brandes during the handover. And that's not just idle chatter: Bonn not only scores points with a high density of museum offerings, but also as a Beethoven city that offers numerous starting points for cultural education. Mayor Guido Déus emphasized the recognition of the city's commitment in this area and was pleased that the work was being recognized in this way.

Diverse measures for everyone

The city's overall concept includes 15 different measures that aim to promote cultural education for children and young people in Bonn. These include established programs such as “Culture and School”, the “Kulturrucksack NRW” and “ViM – Preschool Children in the Museum”. These offerings are continually being networked to provide access to as many children as possible.

A special feature of the new concept is the newly founded coordination office in the cultural office, which will support the implementation of the measures. Initial analyzes have already identified districts in which the need for cultural education is particularly high. “The primary goal is to strengthen the visibility and appreciation for cultural education,” explained the mayor.

Award ceremony and other award winners

With this award, Bonn joins the ranks of twelve cities and districts that were honored this year for their cultural education initiatives. The Ministry of Culture and Science in North Rhine-Westphalia is awarding a total of 285,000 euros in funding to these award winners to support innovative approaches. Cities like Remscheid and Hamm also received awards and have done a lot to enable children and young people to participate in culture.

• Remscheid: 25.000 Euro
• Hamm: 15.000 Euro

Both cities have set themselves promising goals with creative cooperation projects and a network of around 40 actors from art, education and culture. Remscheid, for example, has won the prize for the third time. What an achievement!

In summary, the state government says: “Cultural education enables children and young people to discover their own talents and interests.” Whether through different artistic offerings, the networking of institutions or the support of voluntary initiatives - developments in this area continue to be exciting. In Bonn the front row is already reserved for the cultural future!

You can find more information at Bonn.de, State of North Rhine-Westphalia and MKW NRW.