What happens when we dissolve established boundaries between disciplines, institutions, and fields of practice in cultural management? This is the central question driving the conference — inviting participants to open up existing structures and explore new forms of collaboration between culture, business, and society. The perspective deliberately reaches beyond the DACH region to incorporate international viewpoints.
Both academic contributions and innovative case studies from practice are welcome. Possible thematic areas include:
- Approaches — How do innovative theoretical or empirical approaches in cultural management research help overcome traditional disciplinary boundaries?
- Strategies — What innovations from diverse cultural contexts — from clubs and cinemas to the video game industry and digital platforms — can inspire cultural management?
- Models — How are organisational forms in the cultural sector changing through hybrid models at the intersection of public funding, market logic, and civil society engagement?
- Networks — How can culture be shaped beyond individual organisations, in spatial or digital networks?
- Boundaries — What boundaries are being broken by new digital developments, particularly in the field of artificial intelligence?
- Opportunities — What possibilities do international perspectives offer for innovation in cultural management?
- Processes — What innovative approaches exist in relation to social transformation processes, urban development, and questions of cultural participation?
- Competencies & Future Skills — What learning formats and skills do cultural managers need in the 21st century?
Submission Formats
Submissions are welcome in the following formats:
- Presentations — 20 minutes, Wednesday & Thursday
- Poster Sessions
- Interactive Workshops — 90 minutes, Friday
Language: German or English
Abstract Requirements
Abstracts must not exceed 500 words and should include five keywords as well as the name, institution, and email address of the contributor(s). Please indicate whether the submission takes a scholarly perspective or addresses a practical problem. For academic contributions: aim, context, theoretical and methodological approach, expected results, and key references. For practice-based contributions: institutional context, stakeholders, problem statement, approaches (e.g. best practices), and lessons learnt. Decisions on acceptance will be communicated by the end of May 2026.
Submit by 17 April 2026
Review Process
Submissions will be reviewed by the academic committee, consisting of members of Karlshochschule International University and board members of the Association for Cultural Management Research: Björn Bohnenkamp and Anca Unertl (Karlshochschule), Franziska Breuning (University of Basel), Hellen Gross (Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar), Christian Holst (Leuphana University Lüneburg), Marlene May (Karlshochschule), and Ringo Rösener (University of Leipzig).
Publication
The journal “Kulturmanagement. Forschung & Transfer” will dedicate a special issue to the conference theme. Further information on journal submissions: fachverband-kulturmanagement.org
Contact
Björn Bohnenkamp: kulturmanagement@karlshochschule.de
Anca Unertl / Carolin Klemenz: av@artis-logistics.com
ORGANISATION
Karlshochschule International University
ArtisLogistics Kulturmanagement
TAGUNGSORT
Karlshochschule International University
Karlstrasse 36-38
