Austria Nov 08

Modling is in the north of Austria, a student town with many schools and colleges. The house of youth was founded in-1999 by local politicians in association with the friends of Haus Der Jugend. www.hausderjugend.at.

My hosts Fritz and Urike Weber have been associated with the facility for 9 years, they started as volunteers, then Fritz took over the management in 2001. It is truly an amazing building which houses on site social workers, a drop in, information and education bureau. As well as a cafe and meeting place for young people. Some of the activities on offer are outside grounds for street art, basketball,football, skate boarding. A fully equipped kitchen, cafe , games room and computer station. 2 rehearsal rooms for bands, a DJ club room, and 360 capacity

venue for concerts and live performance, all on the ground floor and fully accessible. On the first floor there is a space for young people to relax and use at break times, on the 2nd floor there is a community college for young asylum seekers run in association with a church parish. as well as on the same floor part of a 46 bed youth hostel also housed in the building.

Urike and Fritz were unsuccessful in applying for funding for a joint project between the Haus Der Jugend and Musical Moves ,due to the house losing funding and the universal cut backs been felt by youth provision europe wide. So i decided after my visit to write into a current application for the Crew Club a proposal to visit the house in March 09 to do a 2 day music workshop. Bringing with us a uncompleted track from February 09 Crew Club workshop so the Modling young people can record there ideas on the track. With a view to both groups of young people visiting the others clubs later in the year, there creating an opportunity for a musical and cultural exchange.