Societal impact of culture coaches

Over the past ten weeks, our team explored the role of culture coaches in Midden-Groningen and their impact on the local community. With our multicultural and multidisciplinary approach, we uncovered fresh perspectives and gained new valuable insights.

Our two main objectives during the research process were to develop a more complete job description for culture coaches and to create a tool for measuring the impact of culture coaches based on three main impact statements, which were: Connection, Empathy and Community Pride.

This project challenged us not only academically, but also in our ability to work as a team in a professional setting. The division of roles and responsibilities was crucial, as was maintaining healthy communication within the team, with our supervisors, and with Kielzog. We conducted an extensive literature review and a stakeholder meeting to uncover the findings and provide the best possible tool for the organization of Kielzog. Our main outcomes of the research were a newly refined definition of culture coaches in Kielzog, as well as, an academic way on how to measure the impact based on the previously mentioned impact statements.

With our final product, we created a tool that we hope will not only have a positive impact on Midden-Groningen but will also assist other cultural organizations in the wider northern Netherlands. This was made possible thanks to the guidance of our internal supervisors, Djamila Boulil and Vincent Hazelhoff, as well as the head of culture and education at Kielzog, Tom Verbeek, for whom we are greatly thankful as the communication and work between us could not run smoother.

This project will challenge us not only academically, but also our ability to work as a group in a professional setting. Division of roles and responsibilities will be of crucial importance, as will healthy communication within the team, supervisors, and Kielzog. We will conduct an extensive literature review and numerous semi-structured interviews.

With our final product we want to create a tool that not only positively impacts Midden-Groningen, but will also assist other cultural organisations in the wider northern Netherlands. This will be possible thanks to our internal supervisors, Vincent Hazelhoff and Djamila Boulil, as well as, head of culture and education at Kielzog, Tom Verbeek.