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7.1 Occupation: Cultural mediator
Cultural mediation as a field of work is situated at the intersection of the arts, the scholarship associated with them and pedagogy. The mixture of knowledge and skills involved in it is correspondingly complex. While teacher training programmes in music or art instruction have long combined subject-specific studies (i.e. art studies or music studies) with pedagogic and artistic elements, it is only very recently that similarly specialized programmes have been established for
→ cultural mediation outside of schools For that reason, the field of cultural mediation has in many instances been greatly influenced by professionals from related scholarly, artistic and pedagogical fields. As a result, cultural mediation can encompass a wide variety of forms and contents, depending on the professional perspective the cultural mediator brings to the work. Many of those involved in art mediation in museums have a degree in art history, cultural and art studies or cultural pedagogy or are qualified school teachers, though more and more artists are working in the field as well. In the world of theatre, the professional profile of “theatre mediator” has a longer history. Many theatre mediators define themselves as artists as well as mediators, and have qualifications in subjects like directing and acting. Many also have backgrounds in the theatre arts. By contrast, others have backgrounds in social or cultural pedagogy with specializations in theatre or aesthetic education more generally. In addition, theatre mediation falls into the sphere of activities of many dramaturges.
In the domains of music and dance, which are traditionally associated with the instruction of instrumental and movement techniques, respectively, the mediation work is often done by artists. Even those whose chief employment is as cultural mediator and who have specialized in dance or music pedagogy tend to have a background in music or dance training. As the level of demand from institutions increases, new occupational profiles are being created, in concert or opera pedagogy for instance, positions sometimes filled by people who have studied the musical arts. In the domain of literature, it is largely scholars of literature or language studies who act as mediators, though it is not uncommon to find writers working as mediators as well, as for example in the “Schulhausroman” (Schoolhouse Novel) project, discussed in one of the
→ Case Studies included in this publication.
