Auftakt
Music as a resource for the rehabilitation of young offenders and adolescents
The ?Auftakt? project examines the extent to which youth detention centres can serve as spaces for cultural education and be integrated into the cultural infrastructure of the state of Schleswig-Holstein. It aims to open up access opportunities for the target group of young offenders and adolescents, who have had little access to cultural education, and to anchor music as an aspect of the rehabilitation process.
The project is based on three pillars that are interlinked in terms of content and developed iteratively:
- Basic research
Research into the significance of music as a resource for development and (re)socialisation for young offenders - Scientific communication
Raising awareness in society and education policy of the importance of music practices as a sub-aspect of cultural education for young offenders - Transfer & dissemination
Development of a strategy for the sustainable implementation of cultural education programmes to support the prevention of child and youth crime, taking into account existing structures and networks in the state of Schleswig-Holstein
Project team
- Prof. Dr. Annette Ziegenmeyer (project manager, MHL)
- Julia Peters (research assistant, MHL)
- Dr. Andreas Heye (project partner, Bielefeld University)
- Miriam M¨¹ller (research assistant, MHL)
Additional experts
- Prof. Dr. Philipp Walkenhorst (Emeritus, University of Cologne)
Funding
- Possehl Foundation: €180,000
- Duration: October 2023 ¨C September 2026
Network
?Auftakt? Network: Perspectives on cultural participation and the prison system
What is the basic idea behind the network?
- The motivation for establishing the network is to raise the profile of the diverse range of actors involved in this field in German-speaking countries, to bring them together, to build bridges, to exploit synergies and to share knowledge and experience.
- The ?Auftakt? network sees itself as a meeting place that is open to anyone interested in helping to shape cultural participation, particularly from a music-related perspective, as part of the project of the same name.
- ?Auftakt? also sees itself as part of the international network International Music and Justice Inquiry Network: IMAJIN: Caring Communities.
How can you benefit from the network?
- Thematic exchange at virtual meetings (Tuesdays, 7 to 8.30 p.m., approx. 6 times a year)
- Contribute & participate in network events (e.g. conferences, workshops)
How can you become part of the network?
- Simply send an email to auftakt@mh-luebeck.de.
Network con?fe?rence
Network conference ?Cultural participation in the prison system: Focus on music?
Conference start and location
- Friday, 21 November 2025, 1:30 p.m. to Saturday, 22 November 2025, 4 p.m.
- ??bergangshaus? / K?nigstra?e 54 / 23552 球探足球比分
Registration and conference fee
- The conference is free of charge.
- Click here to register.
Registration period: 15 July to 31 October 2025
Conference content
As part of the project ¡®Auftakt ¨C Music as a Development Resource for the Rehabilitation of Young Offenders and Adolescents,¡¯ the network conference ?Cultural Participation in the Prison System: Focus on Music? will take place on 21 and 22 November 2025 at the ?bergangshaus in 球探足球比分.
The two-day event will offer a wide range of theoretical and practical insights and provide an interdisciplinary platform for discussing the significance and potential of cultural participation, using the example of music in the prison system. A key aim of the conference is to raise awareness of this field of activity, to bring together the people working in it and to develop shared perspectives for the culture-based support of people who have committed crimes.
Further information about the conference
On Friday, participants and interested members of the public will gain comprehensive insight into the diverse possibilities for cultural participation in prisons in Schleswig-Holstein. Selected institutions from the region will present themselves and provide exciting insights into their work on site. Afterwards, Mashood Khan, a former repeat offender and now a social education worker from Norderstedt, will share valuable insights into the significance and impact of music in the context of the rehabilitation of young offenders.
On Saturday, the focus will be on the design of music programmes in the context of the prison system: Members of the ¡®Auftakt¡¯ network will present methodological suggestions and specialist input to promote the implementation and further development of musical projects in prisons. The programme will be complemented by musical contributions from people in custody or detention, impressively demonstrating the power that music can unleash even behind bars, as well as opportunities for personal conversations and lively exchange.
The conference will be moderated by the ?Auftakt? project team (Prof. Dr. Annette Ziegenmeyer, Julia Peters and Dr. Andreas Heye) and marks an important milestone for the newly emerging network. This brings together actors from across the German-speaking world who are involved in the topic of ¡®music in prisons¡¯, raises the profile of their work and promotes the exchange of knowledge, perspectives and experiences. The conference will conclude with the official launch of the ?Auftakt Network?.
Management & Organisation
- Prof. Dr. Annette Ziegenmeyer (Project Manager, MHL)
- Julia Peters (Research Assistant, MHL)
- Dr. Andreas Heye (Project Partner, Bielefeld University)
Speakers and Contributors
- Prof. Dr. Annette Ziegenmeyer
- Julia Peters
- Dr Andreas Heye
- Mashood Khan
- Sandra Sinsch-Gouffi
- Alfred Haberkorn
- Nicoline Wiermann
- Prof. Dr Gaja v. Sychowski
- Heads of selected penal institutions
Accommodation options
- Motel One
- Klassik Altstadt Hotel
- Further options can be found on the City of 球探足球比分 website.
