The following update was originally posted on LinkedIn by Dr Nick Owen, CEO FRSA MBE, CEO The Mighty Creatives. View the original post here.
It's been quite the week what with developing policy and strategic visions for the UK and EU with Benjamin Feyen and Mafalda Dâmaso and 50+ other stakeholders at the Forum on EU-UK Cultural & Media Relations in Brussels; and then delivering a Cultural Bridge exchange programme with young people and staff from Leicestershire Virtual School and The Mighty Creatives with Werkhaus in Krefeld a few days later.
Whilst policy talks about Cross-Border Mobility in quite abstract terms, being in the thick of the exchange process reminds us of what it's actually like trying to be neighbourly with people we've never met before and of whom we have a limited, if not sometimes stereotypical understanding of. For all the talk of political measures, KPIs and mandates, there's the reality of facing up to of food intolerances, crossing the road safely and experiencing different taxi-drivers driving styles.
But more significantly, this week has proven again the value of cultural exchange experience over the experience of being a tourist or being on a school trip. Our 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.
Language differences, food and daily routines became opportunities for humour, learning and connection. The participants discovered shared humanity and started to break down preconceptions about cultural barriers and differences. 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.
This cultural exchange offered reciprocal, co-created learning as 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.
The week’s been a great reminder that cultural exchange isn’t about crossing borders, but about crossing perspectives. It’s not a journey of consumption, but a journey of co-creation and at its heart, a meeting of equals where curiosity, creativity, and kindness replace tourism, tokenism, and transaction.
Thanks to everyone who made last week swing with such grace! Donna Chapman Dean Leivers Samantha Jayne Peberdy James Blyth, Hayley Stokes, Sam Langridge, Andrea Percival and of course the four and twenty young people from Leicester and Krefeld who were at the centre of this whole experience!