Munich cultural space makes wishes come true: donate cultural happiness!
Created: 12/16/2022 11:18 am
By: Katja Kraft
Heart for children's wishes: Thomas Gierling from KulturRaum at the wishing tree at the Schwabing Christmas market.
© KulturRaum Munich
The association KulturRaum München gives away tickets for cultural events to the needy.
Tickets for the opera, cinema and theater can be bought here all year round.
A visit to the fairytale park, for example.
That was a pleasure!
Or marionette theater, cinema, ballet performance.
When you were a kid, did you ever think about how much it all cost?
no
Only later, in my youth, when we started our first shy rendezvous in the cinema and we ceremoniously invited each other with the pocket money we had saved.
You the tickets, I the popcorn.
"Now imagine that you didn't get any pocket money at all.
Because there is hardly enough to live on in your family,” says Thomas Gierling.
Who can remember a financially carefree childhood.
And that's why today I "want to give something back", as they like to say.
“We give people the opportunity to take part in cultural life again”
The 35-year-old gives a lot back.
The cultural experiences that shaped him should also be allowed to be experienced by others.
That is why he is involved in the KulturRaum München.
This association gives people on low incomes the opportunity to take part in cultural life.
Going to the opera from time to time, to the theater, to the circus with the children.
"Everything that others take for granted." As deputy chairman of the Friends of the KulturRaum München, he uses his voluntary commitment to ensure that new institutions are added that provide tickets free of charge or at a reduced price, and that donations are made.
Wish on the wish tree of the KulturRaum München in Schwabing: This girl wants to go to the trampoline park.
© KulturRaum Munich
One campaign that runs until December 18, 2022 is the culture wish tree at the Schwabing Christmas market.
Children from low-income families were allowed to write down their wishes on hearts.
Everyone can pick them - also online -, pay the costs for the wish and thus give a little person great joy.
"We'll make sure that the tickets are under the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve," promises Thomas Gierling.
And let's be honest: In view of the sums that are shelled out for sticky mulled wine at the Christmas markets in this city, a fairy tale park ticket for a child and companion for 30 euros should be easy.
Gierling knows that a visit to the fairytale park is more than just a leisure activity.
"You don't belong as a kid if you can't go along with what your classmates arrange to do.
And it's the same for adults, seniors, for example, who have worked in the cultural sector all their lives and can no longer afford to go to the theater because their pension is too low."
Committed: Bianca Dingebacher volunteers tickets for the KulturRaum München.
© KulturRaum Munich
Bianca Dingebacher also knows many of these fates.
For six years she has been one of the volunteers who are on the phone every day to get the tickets to the people.
Since 2011, more than 158,000 admission tickets have been passed on to young and old.
Also to those people who are a little alienated from the opera, for example.
“We encourage them to just try it.
The objection is often raised that one does not have the right clothes for a visit to the opera.
I always encourage them with the argument that today many are sitting in jeans and shirts in the National Theater,” says the 54-year-old.
“The opera should not only be a place for people who are attached to so-called high culture.
We need a lot more mixing.
It's great to see how happy that makes people."
Cultural events that bring joy
Like the boy whose mom died and who wanted so much to go to a Bayern Munich basketball game.
The dad was overwhelmed by the new life situation, between grief, education, job.
"Thanks to our dear helpers, it was possible for father and son to visit the game," remembers Gierling, beaming, as if it were his own wish that had come true.
"Dad said afterwards that he hadn't seen his son blossom like this in a long time.
That's what culture can achieve: create new, positive memories, let yourself be distracted - and process things.
Culture inspires.
culture is strong.
We want to pass on this power.”
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Here you can donate! The KulturRaum München welcomes donations and institutions that provide tickets. All information – including the wishing tree – can be found here