News
24.10.09: The Peter Ustinov Foundation celebrates its birthday with 400 children
The foundation established by Sir Peter Ustinov in 1999 celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. Since this time its activities have focussed on supporting children and young people. It was therefore obvious that the Peter Ustinov Foundation should celebrate its own birthday with children.
A total of four hundred children and their parents were invited to the “Inspector Mouse” children’s concert at Philharmonie Essen and this Saturday attended a performance of the “cheese thriller”, a musical story directed by Franz-David Baumann. “It can repeatedly be seen how music and theatre light up children’s eyes. This confirms the value of our work,” concludes Dr. Peter Sicking, head of the “Education, school and upbringing” sponsorship area of the Peter Ustinov Foundation, as he assesses the successful event. In Germany, this is a central activity of the foundation. Here the focus is on intercultural and creative musical projects with children and the encouragement and support of the network of what are to date seven Peter Ustinov schools.
In addition to the fight against prejudices, the theme running through the Foundation’s projects is an improvement of educational opportunities as a bridge to a better future for the children involved and our world. For the Peter Ustinov Foundation this also includes extensive encouragement of music and the arts for children and the development of children’s creativity which this entails. It is intended that children with very different national and social backgrounds will get to know and understand each other through the shared experience or practice of music and drama.
This concept was put into practice once again with the invitation to the “Inspector Mouse” performance. As a result of this, many children, who only rarely experience culture in their daily lives, were brought closer to culture thanks to this free invitation. However, the young guests did not only get a closer look at culture: they were also able to get closer to each other, thus taking a first, important step to overcoming prejudices.
