Building Bridges
Cultural Bridge is a joint UK and German initiative, bringing socially engaged arts organisations and practitioners together to everyone’s benefit. They do this by pairing up organisations and organising in-person get togethers, so that practitioners can spend time with one another. So far, Cultural Bridge has supported 68 partnerships through 85 awards.
Our involvement with Cultural Bridge began in 2025, with a series of online discussions and then hosting our partner organisation, Raum der Künste, for a visit to Kent. In October, artist practitioner, Lucy Stockton Smith, travelled with Clare Thomas to Heidelberg, Germany to meet more Raum der Künste colleagues, to share our vision and working methods, and to see theirs in action.
‘We have a lot in common in terms of our ethos and motivations, but we also differ in our strengths and approaches,’ Lucy reflects. ‘Learning about others is interesting and informative, but it also invites you to reflect on and learn about yourself.’
‘Sharing our understanding of best practice with our partner organisation helped us realise that what we do could be replicable overseas, in places where it doesn’t yet exist… This cultural exchange has given a sense of pride to the people who make up Bright Shadow: our participants. They have inspired others, way beyond the borders of Kent, their voice is being shared and heard – and this is only the beginning. We are building a network and excited for future partnerships.
