Guest Guiding Classical Weimar

Name: Guest Guiding Classical Weimar
Start: 2020-08-15
End: 2030-01-21
Location: Weimar, Germany

Code: 93693a505d124877bbf6d8c89972b432 Copied

Germany Culture Culture Permanent

About the project

📝 Detailed information

🏢 About the local organisation

The history of our partner's organisation dates back to the mid-1980s, when a group of young people began to restore village churches in East Germany in voluntary work to protect them from decay. The initiative to save these buildings brought together people who enjoyed the freedom these activities provided, bringing life again to these places in ways which by far exceed the craftsmen's work done – through exhibitions, concerts, making music together or just sitting by a camp fire. Today, spaces free of political and ideological pressure are no longer urgently required; nonetheless, it is now rare to find places where people can meet without commercial pressure, free of bureaucracy and institutionalism, free of prejudice and the exclusion which it produces. What should be easy – to go somewhere in order to meet people and to work together – has become difficult. The tightrope walk between, on the one hand, public activities in a monetary and functional sense, and the retreat into private life on the other, is very difficult, and it requires a lot of power and permanent efforts to tackle red tape and financial restrictions. Free spaces are less and less understood as common property, and are permanently being cut back. The idea of public property seems to have gone out of fashion, and places of common responsible work have become rare. Our partner tries to create and protect such spaces. In this process, we do not want to be the do-ers. We want to be those who propose vision of initiating a new change in perspective while still being aware of the need to rely in the co-operation of others. We understand our projects and events as offers – as offers to create space for commitment, for changes, for meetings.

💼 What the programme involves

The complex of Belvedere Orangery and the associated buildings had been restored by Weimar Classic Foundation during the last years and was reopened in 2015. In the former Garden Inspector's House a permanent exhibition prepared by European Heritage Volunteers about European Heritage Volunteers Projects in Europe as well as about UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers Projects worldwide is installed. The exhibition is complemented by videos presenting some of the Heritage Volunteers projects having taken place in Europe during the last years. The volunteers taking part in the Guest Guiding project will be at the place from Tuesday to Friday in the afternoons and on Saturdays and Sundays the whole days – the time when most of the visitors will come. Every Monday is the free day of the volunteer, except during the European Heritage Volunteer project. S/he should be available for the visitors of the exhibition, answering their questions concerning European Heritage Volunteers, UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers in general and the UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers project at Belvedere Park. Own contribution concerning related topics as conservation, heritage management, garden architecture and similar is welcome. The volunteers will work in close cooperation with the Department for Castles, Gardens and Buildings of Weimar Classic Foundation. From 13.07. to 17.07. the G01 volunteer will have an introduction seminar to become familiar with the European Heritage Volunteers program as well as to get first instructions about guest guiding, in Gantikow Manor (please have a look on the description of Gantikow Manor) From 15.08. to 29.08., the UNESCO World Heritage Volunteers Project in Weimar (therefore see the description of the project H06) will take place. The G01 volunteer will be there during the first week, providing guided tours for the participants. Also, during this period, the G01 volunteer will have the possibility to transmit the knowledge about exhibition to the G02 volunteer. Thus, the G02 volunteer will be introduced during the first week and then start guest guiding. The G02 volunteer will be involved in the activities of the European Heritage Day on September, 8th, by providing guided tours, too. Both volunteers will be part of the group, presenting heritage sites of its country of origin and being involved in the social life of the group. During this period, both will be accommodated in the hostel with the participants of the European Heritage Volunteers Project. Pocket money: After the introduction week(s) s/he gets 15 € pocket money for each real guest guiding week lasting seven days and 7 € for food per day and s/he will have a simple bike to get from the accommodation to the working place (ca. 4 km). During the H06 project will be further explained, the volunteer will not receive the food money. The volunteer will be accommodated in a flat, with a sleeping room with bed, simple equipped kitchen and shared bathroom. The participants of this project should be aware that s/he is the only volunteer at the place.

🏠 Accommodation on site

The volunteer will be accommodated in a flat, with a sleeping room with bed, simple equipped kitchen and shared bathroom.

🍲 Food

The volunteer will receive € 7 for food per day.

📍 About the location

Weimar is a beautiful small city, located in the middle of Germany in the state of Thuringia. It has a huge number of cultural important places; especially the Classical Period made the city, what it is now. By the late 18th century many of the leading writers and thinkers in Germany, such as Goethe, Schiller and Herder, came to Weimar and shaped the cultural life and in the same time the image of the city. Weimar became the cultural centre of Europe at that time. Many painters, composers and philosophers lived in the city during the classical period. Until now you find many creative and inspired people living in Weimar, which were attracted by the great accumulation of cultural spirit. Since 1998 “Classical Weimar” is inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Besides Goethe’s House, the City Church and the City Palace, especially the parks and gardens with their impressive landscape architecture and pretty castles are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “Classical Weimar”. During the 20th century Weimar became the birthplace of the Modern Movement in architecture and aesthetics. The Bauhaus was developed by merging the Grand Ducal School of Arts and Crafts and the Weimar Academy of Fine Arts. It had a profound influence upon developments in art, architecture, design and typography. The “Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar and Dessau” are listed as UNESCO World Heritage, too. For all this historical important marks and to spread the knowledge of the past, Weimar became in 1999 the European Capital of Culture.

🎒 Leisure activities

The volunteer will be able to enjoy the cultural offers of Weimar. It is also a student town due to the Bauhaus University being located there, therefore it is a vibrant place with many offers of restaurants, cafes and pubs. There are several interesting historical towns and cities such as Erfurt or Jena which are located very close to Weimar.

⚠️ Requirements

Motivation letter related to the project and CV + photo required Skype interview will be scheduled for selection. Basic conversation German and a good level of English are required. Other languages are welcome. Passport -EU-members should bring their European Health Insurance Card; those which have an individual travel insurance should bring the certificate

ℹ️ Additional information

Volunteers should bring:

-sleeping bag

-stable work boots, really appropriate for practical work -appropriate clothes, waterproof coat

-mosquito protection lotion

-Dictionary

-typical recipes, sweets, music, instruments and games from the participants' home country for group activities

-More detailed information will be sent later on the infosheet

Pocket money: After the introduction week(s) s/he gets 15 € pocket money for each real guest guiding week lasting seven days and s/he will have a simple bike to get from the accommodation to the working place (ca. 4 km). During the H06 project will be further explained, the volunteer will not receive the food money.

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