Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst has awarded Claudia Seidensticker the Order of Merit of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia for her extraordinary commitment to children and young people.
Following a personal tragedy, the artist founded the association "KRASS e.V." in 2009 to support children and young people from disadvantaged families and to integrate refugee children. Just one year later, she established the "Stiftung Kultur für Kinder" (Culture for Children Foundation) with its own scholarship program. Integration, tolerance, and mutual respect are the goals and ideals that are conveyed to children and young people through art and culture.
Eulogy by Minister-President Hendrick Wüst for Claudia Seidensticker, Düsseldorf
"A blessing in disguise!" That's easy to say. And yet, there are countless examples of it. Claudia Seidensticker-Fountis's life story is one such example. A serious car accident in February 2004 fundamentally changed her life. She suffered severe injuries. Lengthy treatments and rehabilitation followed. Since then, she has been unable to pursue her profession and her passion as a painter and art instructor. But she fought her way back to life with all her might. And nothing stopped her from making new plans for the future. And indeed: She made a fresh start and embarked on something that would soon prove to be an extraordinary stroke of luck.
An art project that found its place in the Guinness Book of Records.
Claudia Seidensticker-Fountis had a brilliant idea: together with 500 children and teenagers, she painted 1.000 canvases simultaneously in a former tram depot. She was supported by the Düsseldorf Rheinbahn and 150 volunteers. This art project, the world's largest children's art studio, is even documented in the Guinness Book of Records. This project also marked the beginning of Claudia Seidensticker-Fountis's involvement in child and youth welfare.
Your vision, dear Ms. Seidensticker-Fountis, is to introduce disadvantaged young people to art and culture, to encourage and support them in this endeavor. In doing so, you are truly achieving your best. For you know that when children and young people paint, they open not only their paint pots, but also their hearts. And that is why you primarily support children and young people from socially disadvantaged families through art. You recognize early on that creativity and art also facilitate integration because they convey tolerance and respect for others. Therefore, you show these children and young people new opportunities and a path in life that follows these ideals.
They are guided by their motto: "If we want to change the world for the better, we have to start with the children!"
In 2009, Claudia Seidensticker therefore founded the association "Krass eV". She is still its chairwoman today. A full-time job!
She has plenty of ideas: With her "cultural mobile," for example, she travels to public squares in socially disadvantaged areas or to refugee shelters throughout the country. She also organizes painting and music workshops in children's hospital wards. In this way, she gives children and young people new courage and hope in their fight against illness and sadness.
In the intergenerational project "Old Meets Young," residents of a retirement home and children from a daycare center come together. They do crafts and read stories and fairy tales to each other. To finance this, Claudia Seidensticker-Fountis founded the "Culture for Children Foundation." The foundation awards scholarships to children for music or art lessons, for example. The money comes from donations and sponsorships. Claudia Seidensticker-Fountis's extensive network and her undeniable ability to inspire others are invaluable in this endeavor. She is now supported by approximately 150 volunteers.
Over the years, Claudia Seidensticker-Fountis's commitment has inspired many national and international imitators in the field of social franchising. Dear Claudia Seidensticker-Fountis, you can be proud of that. And of the Order of Merit of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, which I am awarding you today for your exemplary dedication to children and young people.
