Come in 2025, your time is up!

Come in 2025, your time is up!

In the final days of 2025, here’s what we’ve learned this year about arts, business and culture.

Via Cultura — Lessons from Krefeld is distilled from a real cross-border cultural exchange process in Krefeld, Germany. It sets out seven practical observations about reciprocity, co-creation, power, pace, and emotional safety in international cultural work, drawn from lived experience rather than theory. It’s shared here simply as a record of what was learned, in case it’s useful to others working in similar terrain. This summary draws on the reflections of young people who took part in the cultural exchange visit to Krefeld, Germany, in partnership with Werkhaus (October 2025). It highlights the key themes of their experience and what made this trip distinctive compared to traditional school or tourist experiences.

1. Authentic Cultural Exchange and Human Connection

The young people valued genuine friendships and human connections with their German peers from Werkhaus. They experienced mutual curiosity and collaboration rather than being passive visitors or spectators. This led to real intercultural understanding through informal conversations, shared meals, and creative activities.

“It felt more like a family holiday than a school trip.”

“We had a closer and more personal experience with the German people.”

2. Creative Expression and Shared Making

The trip centred around artistic collaboration, such as portrait painting and creative workshops, which provided a shared purpose beyond sightseeing. Participants built confidence, embraced experimentation, and recognised that creativity doesn’t require perfection.

“Not everything has to be perfect for the final product to look good.”

“I was surprised by my own talent and everyone else’s amazing creations.”

3. Emotional Growth, Empathy, and Trust

Participants described strong emotional support, trust, and openness between adults and young people. The adults were approachable, caring, and flexible, fostering emotional safety and a sense of belonging that encouraged personal growth.

“I liked that I had more casual and friendly relationships with the adults.”

“They gave me space to calm down and collect myself when I felt overwhelmed.”

4. Autonomy, Freedom, and Shared Responsibility

Young people valued the balance of structure and freedom, being encouraged but not forced to participate. They appreciated autonomy and self-direction—an experience that built confidence and responsibility.

“I liked that I wasn’t forced to do anything I didn’t like but encouraged to do things I wasn’t sure about.”

5. Cross-Cultural Learning and Discovery

Language differences, food, and daily routines became opportunities for humour, learning, and connection. The participants discovered shared humanity, breaking down preconceptions about cultural barriers.

“The fact that the German students actually speak fairly good English.”

“How friendly the Germans were — I instantly connected with them.”

6. Self-Discovery and Personal Growth

Many participants reflected on personal development—overcoming nerves, social anxiety, and perfectionism. The experience encouraged authenticity, resilience, and humour in facing challenges.

“Be yourself — people will like your authenticity.”

“I don’t have to be perky all the time.”

7. Why It’s Different from School Trips or Tourism

Unlike traditional school or tourist trips, the Krefeld exchange focused on relationships and co-creation rather than observation. It blurred the boundaries between leaders and learners, offering a relaxed, empowering, and family-like atmosphere.

“On school trips it’s usually more of a lecture type thing, whereas on this trip we made friends and had individual conversations.”

“It’s a lot more relaxed — more like a family holiday than a school trip.”

Summary Insight

This cultural exchange offered reciprocal, co-created learning – a model of cultural participation rather than cultural consumption. It allowed young people to grow as artists, citizens, and individuals through shared humanity, empathy, and creativity.