The young people stand in a circle, Juliane Köhler in the middle. “We’re now practicing letting ourselves go,” says the actress. “I’ll show you that.” Stands stock still, feet together, hands on thighs – and even falls forward like a tin soldier. Two surprised boys catch her, carefully push her back in the other direction, there are two girls standing there, she is held again and on we go, sideways, forwards, backwards. “Now it’s your turn,” says Koehler. “Who would?” Hesitate. Then a tall young man walks into the middle. That’s a different weight than the willowy actress. But he too is caught. And a smile spreads across the faces of those involved.
It looks easy, such a physical exercise, but it takes effort. Anyone who dares is enriched by an important experience: the group holds. Trust is rewarded. Nobody is dropped.
Juliane Köhler is the patron of “Kunstlinge”, a one-week workshop in the Pinakothek der Moderne, which takes place four times a year. It is part of an orientation program for young people and young adults who have not yet found an apprenticeship. The actress not only puts her name on the flyer, she comes personally every time for an afternoon. To show: There are tricks that can be used to strengthen self-confidence and self-awareness.
“When I was your age, I was soooo shy,” she says now, spreading her arms to demonstrate the extent of her stage fright. “I would never have dared to speak on stage here in the Pinakothek. No way! But I really wanted to be an actress. I applied to all German drama schools and was never accepted.” She should rather become a kindergarten teacher, she was told. She then gathered all her courage and went to a school in the USA.
When she came back, it was quite a while before she got her first engagement on a German stage, in Hanover. Today, Köhler is one of the most prominent German actresses. For almost three decades she has been part of the ensemble of the Residenztheaters – currently she can be seen in four productions -, shoots cinema and television films. But this afternoon she keeps herself free.
Actress Juliane Koehler at a film premiere in the Arri cinema.
(Photo: Stephan Rumpf)
It is the penultimate day of the art week. On Monday morning, the young people were still shyly sitting next to each other, a little unsure of what they had gotten themselves into. Now they’re in the middle of production, and there’s tense anticipation. On Friday they will present their results on stage in front of an audience. A tight program.
The workshop is part of “Joblinge” course that aims to get young people fit for the job. Because although around 70,000 apprenticeship positions in Germany are vacant, many young people are unable to find an apprenticeship position. The reasons are complex, but one thing is clear: self-confidence suffers when rejections keep ending up in the mailbox. Without explanation. If you don’t have a mentor, nobody who encourages you and emphasizes your strengths, it’s difficult.
The Joblinge are a Germany-wide, non-profit corporation, supported by companies, the employment agency, municipalities and private sponsors. The young people receive a six-month training course, learn which professions there are, how to write an application, what is important in the job interview. They do trial internships, have a mentor in a company and learn to work in a team. The success is remarkable. According to the organization, 84 percent of graduates get an apprenticeship, and nine out of ten then complete the apprenticeship.
Come on, dare! Juliane Köhler does a couple of perception and relaxation exercises with the workshop participants.
(Photo: Catherine Hess)
Teamwork is also important for the “artists”. The workshop has been taking place for ten years and, according to the Joblinge supervisors, all participants say afterwards that it was the highlight. They sense, perhaps for the first time, that adults have confidence in them and don’t treat them condescendingly. That boosts self-confidence.
This time Alexander Löwenstein and Ivan Paskalev will lead the workshop. One saxophonist, composer and sound artist, the other multimedia artist. Both with caps and baggy jeans and a calm, concentrated way of approaching things. They communicate at eye level. The goal: to create a short stop-motion film in just under five days.
At the beginning there is a walk through the Pinakothek, looking at pictures
At the beginning the group goes with Jochen Meister from the art mediation of the State Painting Collections through the Pinakothek der Moderne. Most have never been to the museum before, but everyone is curious. They each choose a work that particularly appeals to them. They take their impressions with them to the workshop, and then they cut, glue and knead figures, implement their own ideas and dreams, invent little picture stories. You photograph hundreds of individual settings with the tablet and also create a sound. At the end everything is played in fast motion.
And then it is time. Friday afternoon, presentation in the auditorium of the Pinakothek. There are sponsors, mentors and other joblings in the audience. Lights off, spot on. Each of the group presents their own short film. Amazingly professional. They tell how they worked, what they learned. “I chose this picture by Kandinsky,” says Ranim, pointing to the projection on the wall. The young Syrian called her film “Hope”. Everyone says how good it felt “that Alex and Ivan took all our ideas and decisions equally seriously.” They speak freely, there is little evidence of stage fright.
“Art can change us.”
Carla Schulz-Hoffmann is visibly impressed. “Great work,” she says appreciatively and then wants to know how many photos were necessary for such an animated film that lasts less than two minutes. “1200,” says Sebastian. “Wow,” replies the former deputy general director of the Bavarian State Painting Collections. She started the project ten years ago with the Rotary Club. Marie-José van de Loo is also there. The gallery owner supports the workshops with her family foundation on a long-term basis. And Juliane Köhler, who also came to the end, says: “I’m always surprised by what I see here. This wonderful project proves that art can change us.” Relief spreads across the faces of the young people. And a little pride too.
Fatih Sabur, 26:
Fatih Sabur found the training that suits him.
(Photo: private)
“The art week was a nice contrast to the other Joblinge program, with giving presentations, practicing job interviews, coaching and so on. Creating a work that contains a lot of your own personality and presenting it in front of an audience at the end, something like that I had never experienced before. I’m not the shyest guy, but I’m also not the most open. It took a lot of effort to get on stage. But it was a very good feeling. Because after school I didn’t know I had only just started to study what I was supposed to do. But then I realized that it was too theoretical for me. But I had no idea which training would suit me. Then I came to the Joblingen – and found my way. “Now I’m doing an apprenticeship as a traffic service clerk at Deutsche Bahn. I deal with people there every day, which I enjoy a lot. And we also get discounted tickets that we can use to travel throughout Germany, which isn’t bad either .”
Ranim Almawali, 23:
“I would like to become a media designer, so the week in the Pinakothek with Alex and Ivan obviously helped me a lot. I did my Abitur in Syria, but that’s not recognized in Germany. Three years ago I followed with my mother and my two brothers I came to Munich, my father was there before that. I started the German course, but then the pandemic came and it was very difficult to learn the language properly without contact with others, especially Germans. But I wanted to use my time wisely , and learn something besides the course in my free time. Then I discovered on Twitter that there is an Arabic group that volunteers to offer translations from English into Arabic. I offered to help and then also started with a software to insert small pictures. That was fun, so I came up with my dream job.
I would prefer to do a dual degree. I applied to the IU, the international university in Munich, for media design, and I really wish that they would take me. Then I have to find an apprenticeship. I actually need a German school-leaving certificate for that. On the other hand, if I find a company that offers me an apprenticeship, then my Abitur will be recognized. Bit complicated, the whole thing. But I’ve gained a lot more self-confidence through the joblings and I’m learning about the possibilities. My family really encourages me to go my own way.”
Daniel Berkenkamp, 21:
Daniel Berkenkamp has been accepted for his dream job.
(Photo: private)
“I was in the previous Kunstlinge course and it was a great experience. We got to know the museum, talked about colors and how they appeal to feelings. Then we drew and painted ourselves, made a leporello and added a music loop. I hold I didn’t see myself as a particularly creative person and thought at first: I’ll never get it right. But we were allowed to decide for ourselves how we put our thoughts and feelings on paper. And I have to say: It was crazy what happened in one week. The Joblinge program gave me orientation. I didn’t know at all what I was supposed to do after school. Then Corona came, you just hung around at home, had no social life anymore, all motivation was lost. But I did I always put my friends’ computers together and helped them when they had IT problems.Now I’m doing a paid internship and the company has accepted me to do an apprenticeship as a computer scientist for systems integration. My dream job.”