The public youth centre with a youth culture profile

 

Idea
Creating a space where young people can try out their abilities, where they will be able to acquire musical skills to express themselves in music. A space where they will be able to showcase their skills and which is located right at the centre of their everyday lives and may become a permanent fixture for them – this was the aim of this new youth work facility. This space, right in the middle of home, school or job, and leisure time is under construction at the moment in the Nuremberg district of Muggenhof, home to a large number of socially deprived children and teenagers, a place that is in dire need of such spaces for social and cultural learning.

 

Location and Circumstances

  • Nürnberg, Muggenhof district – this is a district where two major employers, AEG and Quelle, shut their doors within a short period, which the district is still struggling with
  • Located between the Geschwister Scholl secondary school, the occupational rehabilitation centre, and an allotment gardening site

 

Offerings of the children’s and youth centre

The centre’s core area is the open-door area. Children and teenagers are invited to come there without prior appointments and spend their leisure time. The infrastructure is suitable, and qualified staff are available.

The centre will have a youth culture focus. This means in particular that young people are to be given the opportunity to experiment with youth cultural modes of expression, which include music, dance, and theatre. Besides suitable rooms (music rehearsal rooms, dance studio), the centre will also feature a performance space.

Another of the centre’s priorities will be the envisaged cooperation with the Geschwister Scholl secondary school. This may take the shape of common projects, the reciprocal use of each other’s resources, or additional educational opportunities. The first discussions with the head teacher’s office have already taken place.

Efficient room management provides for the use of the rooms by the young clients, who take responsibility for managing and using the rooms at these times, even when the staff is not on site. External groups who are not among the centre’s core clientele will also be able to use the rooms subject to availability.

And again and again…..

Music, Music, Music
Music is the main focus of our programme portfolio.

First and foremost, it is geared towards young people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to take up an instrument or start a band due to financial constraints. Our educational programme aims at reaching these young people who will have the opportunity to learn both musical and social skills.

Two rehearsal rooms are to be made available for the music education activities, both fully furnished with a back line and instruments. Between the two rehearsal rooms, a fully equipped recording studio will be installed, which will share a glass partition wall with one of the rehearsal rooms.

These “high-volume” rooms will be in the centre’s basement.

Music rehearsal rooms 1 and 2
These rooms are not given to just a band or two, but are available for all music educational activities. These include instrument and vocals workshops, band workshops and also the development and coaching of young people’s band and solo projects. In addition, one of the rehearsal rooms will be reserved for up to seven young bands who will also receive qualified coaching. This is geared towards young people who wouldn’t otherwise be able to take up an instrument or start a band due to financial constraints. These young people will have the opportunity to learn both musical and social skills.

The following equipment per room is required to realise this:

  • Drum set with equipment
  • Bass amp
  • Guitar amps
  • E-piano, keyboard
  • Mini PA with equipment
  • Guitars and basses
  • 3 simple stools
  • 1 drum and keyboard stool each
  • 1 sofa
  • Small parts (music stands, etc.)

Recording Studio
Producing songs, working with samples, creatively working with the medium of music, all this is part of the centre’s music education portfolio. The recording studio will not only appeal to bands, but also to other youth cultures such as HipHop or DJing. Professional perfection is not the focus here, but the opportunity to express an attitude to life.

The following equipment is required:

  • PC workstation with two monitors
  • Software
  • Digital mixing desk
  • Sampler, drum computers etc.
  • 2 large-diaphragm mics
  • Set of studio mics
  • Monitor speakers
  • Power amp
  • Studio chair
  • 2 chairs
  • Sofa
  • Equipment

Performance space
On the first floor, there is a small performance space with a stage, where young people can showcase their projects. Musical events, such as contests, CD releases, small festivals, concert series, etc. are to be presented here. The space has capacity for an audience of 150 and is therefore well suited as a platform especially for young bands, HipHoppers or street dancers. The following equipment is required:

General

  • 60 stackable chairs
  • 8 collapsible tables
  • Mirrored wall for dance rehearsal
  • 2 soft floor mats

Technology

  • Lighting system:
    Lighting strip in addition to regular stage lighting,
    2 LED spotlights from back,
    6 LED spotlights from front,
    Lighting control unit
  • Fixed PA audio system, active or passive with mixing desk and power amp
  • Projector

Further information and enquiries can be directed to

Detlef Menzke
City of Nuremberg, Office for Children, Youth, and Families
Head, Childrens’ and Youth Work Department
Tel: +49-(0)911-231-5588
E-mail: detlef.menzke@stadt.nuernberg.de