English summary

UKM – Background

UKM, Young cultures meet, is a way to create meeting places for young people aged between 13 and 20 years by organizing yearly cultural festivals where the participant’s artistic expressions are the basis for the festival. 

In Värmland Sweden, UKM has been around since 1998, involving approximately 800-1200 adolescents each year. In 2010, 14 of the region's 16 municipalities are organizers or co-organizers of local festivals. All young people who sign up may participate in local festivals. They can participate on stage, in the art exhibition, but also as organizers. Festivals may include - in addition to participants' own subject matter - workshops, open stage, food and accommodation. Some of the young people who participates in local festivals also gets the opportunity to participate in the UKM region festival, UKM nationwide festival and a UKM tour.

UKM – Organization

The local festival in the region's municipalities have different conditions. Some are arranged with great support from the municipality, other organized only with help of volunteers. 

At regional level, a coordinator has overall responsibility for UKM's development in the region. The coordinator provides the municipalities with a common marketing material, arranges network meetings and coordinates the annual region UKM festival. 

At national level there is a coordinator and a board that monitors the UKM concept, and is responsible for UKM's annual national festival, where young people from all UKM regions are able to meet.

UKM – Objectives

• Create meeting places in the form of festivals, where people with different interests and different backgrounds can meet and be inspired. 
• Improving the knowledge, respect and understanding for the young culture, and making the young cultural breadth and richness visible.
• Provide opportunities for young people’s own creativity, encourage their own initiatives and their opportunity to influence and impact.
• Promote youth culture at the local, regional, national and international levels.
• Be a platform where adults and young people can create and work together.
• UKM is a cultural crossroads, no a contest.
• UKM is a place for young people to grow as artists, organizers and humans.