Museums and schools play an important role in providing students with a sense of orientation in the real world and fostering cultural literacy. Information and media literacy are crucial to shaping students’ future lives.
In the 2007–08 school year, the Fritz-Winter Comprehensive School in Ahlen launched the pilot project “Kunst.Klasse!” The concept has continued to evolve. For example, the “Art 2024” specialized class became the specialized subject KDMK—Art, Design, Media, and Culture. It aims to open doors for students to a creative world that goes far beyond the traditional understanding of art education. Art should be understood not only as aesthetic education but also as a tool for envisioning the future. To this end, a media lab, a student-run company, the creation of podcasts and film projects, and a dedicated digital platform for student ideas offer many opportunities for students starting in 5th grade.
From the very beginning, collaboration with the Ahlen Art Museum has been at the heart of this concept. The art classes regularly visit our exhibitions and independently carry out creative projects. With the support of our museum educators, they explore various artistic and social themes and learn about the fundamentals of design, techniques, and concepts that artists use to express their view of reality. The result is artistic work that can take the form not only of visual art but also of language, dance, or theater.
