Remscheid's Youth Culture Festival: Why did the young people stay away?

Remscheid's Youth Culture Festival: Why did the young people stay away?

The Remscheid Youth Culture Festival took place last Saturday, but there were no large numbers of visitors. Only a few young people found their way to this first major festival of its kind in an impressive 15 years. The disappointed organizer Luna Navarro Diaz, who worked as an event management trainee, expressed her wish for improvement and thought about the next event. Instead of giving up, an “error analysis” should be carried out to examine what went wrong and how future events can be designed better, reports rga.de.

The city of Remscheid has invested extensively in advertising to promote the festival. Information was disseminated via social media, posters and flyers. Nevertheless, a survey on Instagram shows clarifying results: Some young people surveyed knew nothing about the festival, while others had little to do with the acts or didn't feel addressed. Navarro Diaz therefore urgently appeals to young people to provide suggestions for improvement and announces that greater involvement of schools will be sought in the coming year.

The challenges of youth culture

The challenges encountered by organizers are reflected in current media usage trends among youth. According to a study, 93 percent of 12 to 19 year olds use their smartphone every day, and 90 percent use the Internet every day Statista shows. The increasing use of social media - especially platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and YouTube - has had a major impact on young people's information behavior. Many of these young people are immersed in a world of constant availability of new content, which makes communication about traditional events such as the festival difficult.

The cultural exchange that festivals like this offer is important, as Sven Graf from the Teo Otto Theater emphasizes. He points out that it takes time to establish an event among young people. Björn Lenz from WTT is also critical, noting that it was possible to involve some young people, but that the proportion should be much higher.

Media literacy and interactions

The role of social media is crucial for youth. They offer orientation for personal identity and promote exchange among peers, such as bpb reported. These platforms are not only a means of communication, but also a place that becomes a challenge, especially with the emergence of so-called tests of courage. While some are harmless, others have serious consequences, highlighting the need for solid media education.

The majority of young people often feel that the use of the Internet in schools is restrictive and would like more information and support. The need to involve parents in media education and emphasize the role of platform operators is seen as crucial. A more sensitized society could make it possible for events such as the youth culture festival to become more attractive again and have a stronger appeal for young people.

Finally, it is to be hoped that the city of Remscheid will learn the necessary lessons from this festival and plan the next steps to revitalize youth culture in the region. Your ideas in linking school and culture could be the key to a successful return, which will then become apparent next year.