KRASS e.V. Kulturelle Bildung für Kinder und Jugendliche

What KRASS e.V. Kulturelle Bildung für Kinder und Jugendliche does

KRASS e.V. Kulturelle Bildung für Kinder und Jugendliche is a registered German non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded in 2009 in Düsseldorf by Claudia Seidensticker-Fountis. The organization delivers free, open-access cultural education programs in art, music, theatre, film, dance, and new media to children and young people aged 6-18+, with a particular focus on those facing challenging life circumstances, including socioeconomic disadvantage and refugee status. Programs are delivered without registration at fixed locations (primarily the Bürgerhaus Eller in Düsseldorf-Eller) and through mobile units (KulturMobil, InterKulturMobil, and the MOVER mobile recording studio), and are supplemented by tutoring, scholarship support, and holiday programs.

The service model is explicitly barrier-free: all programs are free, professional artists deliver the instruction, and locations in playgrounds, parks, schools, and refugee accommodations remove transportation and entry-cost friction. The technical footprint is operational rather than digital-native, comprising mobile studios, a fixed recording studio, a website, and a YouTube/Instagram/Facebook presence for outreach.

The organization is funded entirely through donations and grants from individuals, corporate donors (e.g., ARAG SE, 3M), federal and regional government (BMBF, LVR, NRW.BANK), and foundations (Sparkassen-Kulturstiftung Rheinland, King Baudouin Foundation, Aktion Mensch, Stiftung Zukunft – Familie Simon). Delivery is replicated beyond Düsseldorf via a social franchising network spanning Hamburg, Trier, Lüneburg, Athens, Kurdistan/Iraq, and Shanghai. Since 2009, the organization reports 68,470+ child participants, 380+ volunteers contributing 378,847+ hours, and 30 scholarship recipients, and has been recognized with a 2008 Guinness World Record, the 2019 Primus Prize, the 2022 State Order of Merit of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the 2024 Youth Culture Prize.

Name

KRASS e.V. Kulturelle Bildung für Kinder und Jugendliche

Legal name

KRASS e.V. Kulturelle Bildung für Kinder und Jugendliche

Website

https://krass-ev.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KRASS e.V. is a Düsseldorf-based non-profit providing free cultural education (art, music, theatre, film, dance) to children and youth aged 6-18+, delivered via fixed locations, mobile studios (KulturMobil, MOVER), and an eight-city social franchising network, funded by donations and grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Cultural Education Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH)

Keywords

• Cultural education programs
• Youth arts workshops
• Mobile art studio
• Music production for youth
• Nonprofit youth services

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: KRASS e.V. operates entirely on donations from individuals, foundations, and corporate donors. The nonprofit receives financial support for specific projects, general operations, and capital investments (such as the MOVER recording studio). Donation receipts are issued for donations of €200 or more.
2. Government and Foundation Grants: The organization receives funding from government programs (Bundesministerium der Bildung und Forschung, Landschaftsverband Rheinland) and foundations (Sparkassen-Kulturstiftung Rheinland, King Baudouin Foundation, Aktion Mensch) for specific cultural education projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KRASS e.V. is a registered German non-profit association that delivers free, open-access cultural education programs for children and young people aged 6-18+ facing challenging life circumstances. Offerings span art, music, theatre, film, dance, new media, and academic tutoring, delivered through fixed studio locations, mobile units (KulturMobil and MOVER recording studio), school and refugee shelter partnerships, and a social franchising network across Germany, Greece, Iraq, and China. All programs are professionally led, require no registration, and are funded entirely through donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

KRASS e.V. operates as a non-profit cultural education organization offering a portfolio of free, inclusive programs for children and young people. The core offerings include the Children's Art Studio (Kinderatelier), KulturMobil (mobile art studio), Recording Studio, The MOVER (mobile recording studio), Children's Theatre Club, and Tutoring programs. These are supplemented by specialized workshops in film/new media, music, dance/movement, stop-motion animation, and holiday programs. The organization uses a social franchising model with locations in Düsseldorf (headquarters), Hamburg, Trier, Lüneburg, Athens, Kurdistan/Iraq, and Shanghai. All programs are free, open-access, and do not require registration, designed specifically for children facing challenging life circumstances or limited access to cultural education.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KulturMobil: Mobile art studio that travels to neighborhoods across Düsseldorf, providing free creative activities for children without registration.
• InterKulturMobil
• MOVER
• KunstMobil

Products and services

• Children's Art Studio (Kinderatelier) Free, open-access art studio for children aged 6-12 in Düsseldorf offering painting, drawing, crafting, and creative workshops supervised by professional artists, with no registration required.
• KulturMobil (Mobile Art Studio) Mobile art studio that travels daily to different Düsseldorf neighborhoods (Unterrath, Reisholz, Garath, Eller, Hassels), bringing paints, brushes, craft supplies, and professional instructors to playgrounds and public spaces for free creative activities.
• MOVER (Mobile Recording Studio) Rolling mobile recording studio that travels to parks, schools, and youth centers throughout Düsseldorf, enabling young people aged 13+ to record songs, produce beats, and experiment with music using professional studio equipment.
• Recording Studio (Tonstudio) Professional recording studio where young people write lyrics, record songs, and learn studio techniques from real music professionals at the Bürgerhaus Eller location.
• Children's Theatre Club Free children's theatre workshop for children aged 6-12 held Mondays at Bürgerhaus Eller, where children develop plays, learn acting, and perform together under professional instruction.
• Free Academic Tutoring (Nachhilfe) Free open tutoring and learning support for children in Düsseldorf, including math tutoring programs with documented success in improving student academic performance.
• Dance & Movement Programs Free dance and movement workshops for children, including the 'Come, dance with me!' and 'Dance without limits' programs promoting self-confidence, physical wellbeing, and exploration of diverse dance styles.
• Holiday Programs (Easter & Summer) Free holiday programs during Easter, summer, and other school breaks offering creative workshops in art, music, dance, theatre, film, and upcycling for children and teenagers.
• Scholarship Program (Förderkinder) Art, music, or dance scholarships for exceptionally gifted children and young people aged 10-18 from families who cannot afford artistic training, including professional lessons and equipment support.
• InterKulturMobil (Refugee Outreach Program) Mobile program visiting refugee accommodations in Düsseldorf, bringing art, German language lessons, and creative activities to refugee children to support integration and creative expression.
• Film & New Media Projects Film and new media workshops teaching children to use cameras, lighting, editing software, and mobile devices to create their own films and digital content.
• Stop-Motion Animation Workshops Workshop where children create stop-motion animated films, learning character development, storytelling, and film production techniques (e.g., the 'Trickfilm Helden' project for grades 6-8 on children's rights).
• Social Franchising Network Network of KRASS locations across Hamburg, Trier, Lüneburg (Germany), Athens (Greece), Kurdistan/Iraq, and Shanghai (China), enabling international replication of the cultural education model.

Quantifiable outcome

• 68,470 children and teens have participated in workshops since 2009
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered major.

• Kunstpalast DüsseldorfmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation with the art museum where KRASS introduces children to art. Children visit exhibitions and later create their own artwork at the KRASS studio, inspired by museum collections.
• Freundeskreis Kunstpalast (Friends of Kunstpalast)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNon-profit association of 6,000+ members supporting the museum. Partners with KRASS to inspire children for art through school visits and creative workshops at the museum.
• BBK (Bundesverband Bildender Künstlerinnen und Künstler) DüsseldorfmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional association of visual artists that collaborated with KRASS on the Kunstpunkte 2023 project, led by Michelle from BBK. Workshops on 'headspace' and emotional expression held at BBK Kunstforum Düsseldorf.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Imagination Stage: US nonprofit providing theatre and arts education for children and youth, including programs for underserved communities. Closely analogous operating model to KRASS: free/low-cost programming with professional artists serving children.
• Young Audiences: US-based nonprofit network delivering arts education programs to K-12 students, with emphasis on accessibility and underserved communities. Comparable as a free/subsidized arts-education provider serving children via schools and community sites.
• El Sistema (Fundación Musical Simón Bolívar): Venezuelan-origin international movement offering free intensive music education to children in disadvantaged communities. Closely comparable model to KRASS in using professional artists, free access, and intensive cultural pedagogy for underserved youth.
• JeKits – Jedem Kind Instrumente, Tanzen, Singen: NRW state program providing free music, dance, and singing education to elementary school children. Operates in the same state as KRASS, serves a similar age cohort, and uses arts as a pedagogical and integration tool.
• Kultur macht Stark: Federal BMBF program funding cultural education projects for children and young people in disadvantaged circumstances across Germany. Shares KRASS's mission of free, accessible cultural education for underserved youth and even funds some of KRASS's own projects.

Emerging players

• Junge Kunstschule Stuttgart (JUKS): Stuttgart-based youth art school offering free and low-cost visual arts and creative workshops for children and teens. Comparable as a German city-level cultural-education non-profit for young people.

Broad incumbents

• Bundesvereinigung Kulturelle Kinder- und Jugendbildung (BKJ): German umbrella association for cultural youth education, representing member organizations across multiple art forms. KRASS fits within its constituency as a member organization; comparable as the broader sectoral frame.

Regional players

• SOCAS – Scandinavian Culture and Society: Nordic-region initiative using arts and culture for social integration of children and youth, including newly arrived refugees. Comparable model of culturally anchored integration work but operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Krassmovies
• Facebookfacebook.com/KRASS.Ddorf
• Instagraminstagram.com/krass.for.kids
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/krass-e-v-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KRASS e.V. Kulturelle Bildung für Kinder und Jugendliche