8.4 Criteria for a primarily affirmative cultural mediation

Main objectives for education in the cultural institution:

The institution defines the specialized knowledge to be passed on.
The institution defines the specialized knowledge to be passed on.
The institution is targeting an already interested and informed audience.
The institution seeks to strengthen the bonds between itself and this audience with the cultural mediation project.
The institution presents itself as a specialized organization with influence over the artistic sphere in question.

Structure

Underlying conditions relating to infrastructure, organization and staff, financial and material resources:

The staff for the cultural mediation project possess the requisite expertise for the project and the pedagogical stamina to face an informed (in respect of both subject matter and methodology) and critical audience.
Compensation for the cultural mediator is appropriate, at least in line with the published pay scale. The mediator is compensated for preparatory and follow-up activities..
An appropriate Budget exists for the materials necessary.
Adequate spatial resources are in place to support the cultural mediation (e.g. rooms to work in, acoustics, seating, etc.).
Staff responsible for the organization, coordination and communication of the programme have the requisite experience.
Sufficient time is available for planning and follow-up activities for the project.
The flow of information between departments is acceptable. Those responsible for the cultural mediation have insight into the production constituting its subject matter during design and planning phases of the project.
The structure offers opportunities for reflecting on the process with all of those involved and hence for refining the cultural mediation project as an integral part of the institution.

Pedagogic, subject-specific, organizational and, if appropriate, artistic quality of the concept and execution:

The organizational flow of the project is transparent and straightforward for participants.
The cultural mediation concept corresponds in terms of subject matter and methodology with the contents to be conveyed in a manner that is both coherent and imaginative.
The language used in the cultural mediation reflects the subject-specific terminology while taking differing levels of knowledge within the audience into account. Phrases presuming advance knowledge, such as “as you are certainly all aware”, are avoided.
The content of the cultural mediation comprises basic knowledge as well as background information which is new to an informed public. It makes transparent the perspectives and sources from which the knowledge comes (this applies for all functions of cultural mediation). Redundant descriptions and assumptions are avoided (“the gloomy light in the stage makes our flesh creep”).
The tone and attitude of the cultural mediators are self-assured and friendly, neither servile nor defensive. They identify gaps in their own expertise and recognized that they are necessary for further developing their practices. Educational professionalism, in the sense of reflexivity, is a given: they have the ability to step back, and analyze their own practices, their audience and the environment of the cultural mediation.

Results and effects in relation to the objectives formulated:

The cultural mediator feels a high level of satisfaction with the work.
All persons involved in the institution feel a high level of satisfaction with the collaboration of the those responsible for the organization, coordination, production and cultural mediation; collaboration will be continued on that basis.
The audience feels a high level of satisfaction with the cultural mediation project; similar projects are gladly taken advantage of by part of the audience.
Quantitative use of the project corresponds to target objectives.
The project perceptibly contributes to reinforcing a positive public image of the institution. The institution actively uses it to enhance this image.