Strategic Orientation: Culture as a Topic for the Future

The coming years are marked by a strategic cultural development that brings together culture, tourism, education, digitalization, and urban planning. Planned are:

• target group-specific cultural offerings for locals and guests,
• digital mediation along historical axes and in urban spaces,
• more accessible entry for children, youth, seniors, people with an immigration background, and people with disabilities.

Four fields of action guide the next steps: cooperation and networking, cultural education and participation, cultural funding and administration, as well as communication and visibility.

New Cultural Venues: Cultural Quarter, Space Exchange, and Flexible Use

The city is preparing the development of a cultural quarter or cultural center that combines stage, meeting place, workshop, and showcase. In addition, the space needs of the independent scene are being systematically addressed.

Planned Focus Areas

• Establishment of a cultural quarter as an open space for institutions and the independent scene,
• Introduction of a Cultural Space Exchange for transparent mediation of studios, rehearsal rooms, and temporary stages,
• Concept for securing affordable spaces and for using vacant shops and halls for cultural formats.

Benefits for the Urban Community and Guests

• more visible culture in everyday life—readings in workshops, exhibitions in former shops, concerts in unusual places,
• shorter paths to contacts and clearer processes for organizers and creatives.

Urban Maker Space, Third Places, and Smart Cultural Mediation

As a "third place," an Urban Maker Space is being created in connection with a modern library and adult education landscape. The place combines analog and digital work—from sound, text, photo, and film to prototyping and media labs—and is aimed at broad target groups, from youth to seniors.

In parallel, smart city components are driving cultural development forward:

• Future Lab: A public space where urban development, project ideas, and digital tools become tangible.
• Digital.Makerspace: Locations for audio, film, photography, and digital production with low-threshold offerings.
• "2000 Years.City.Digital": Interactive formats and city tours that make Kempten's history accessible in a contemporary way.

Participation, Culture Pass, and Modern Funding

For broad access to culture, Kempten relies on instruments that lower barriers and strengthen diversity.

• Culture Pass: Easier access to events and venues; design in cooperation with social partners.
• Micro-Projects: Small, experimental projects receive uncomplicated funding opportunities.
• KuBiT Structures: Coordination of cultural education in educational institutions and in cooperation with museums, theaters, and independent groups.
• Youth Culture Advisory Board: Strengthening young perspectives in cultural decisions.
• Inclusion and Diversity: Standards and consulting for accessible and diverse cultural offerings.
• Expert Juries and Guidelines: Qualitative selection processes, transparent criteria, and regular reports.

Urban Development and Land Use Plan: Space for Culture

Cultural development is closely linked to overall urban planning. The land use plan with a target horizon of 2040 controls where cultural venues, open spaces, meeting zones, and creative interim uses can be realized in the future. The focus is on:

• City center as a stage: events, temporary installations, and formats in public spaces,
• cultural revitalization of historic sites,
• district-specific, affordable venues for contemporary and experimental art.

The mentioned projects are gradually prioritized and coordinated so that cultural development, mobility, commerce, and open space planning work together.

What This Means for Locals, Creatives, and Guests

• For residents: more diverse, more accessible cultural offerings and learning spaces; digital services make orientation and participation easier.
• For artists and initiatives: better planning through space transparency, consulting, and fair funding procedures; stronger networking via advisory boards and networks.
• For visitors: experience-oriented urban spaces, digital city exploration, and new formats between museums, streets, and squares.

All in all, a robust vision for the future emerges: culture moves from being an "add-on" to the core of urban resilience—with positive effects on identity, city center frequency, and quality of life.

Sources and Further Information

Note on methodology: This article refers to publicly accessible municipal documents, strategies, and project descriptions. Schedules and content may change as a result of political decisions and funding approvals.

1. City of Kempten (Allgäu) – Official City Website — Overview of culture, urban development, and projects (accessed 2025-12-17)
2. City of Kempten – Culture — Information on institutions, programs, and funding opportunities (accessed 2025-12-17)
3. City of Kempten – Smart City — Project components such as Future Lab, Digital.Makerspace, digital mediation (accessed 2025-12-17)
4. City of Kempten – Urban Planning — Notes on the land use plan and development goals (accessed 2025-12-17)