Image by: David Perez Recio Photography

Culture Unites. Does It?

“Are you crazy? You’re organizing a festival in three months?!”

That was the reaction from people around me when I casually shared that I wanted to host a cross-cultural arts and culture event in Munich, Germany.

It was February 2026.

The festival was planned for May.

Three months.

I guess I was a little crazy.

Because on 9 May 2026, Storya Festival happened.

Storya was an international arts and culture event in Munich bringing together visual and performing artists representing four continents. But for me, it was never just about putting artists on a stage or displaying their work.

It was about creating a space where people could meet each other through culture.

And that turned out to be much more complicated — and much more beautiful — than I expected.

Help and support

There was no way I could have done it alone.

To make Storya possible, I collaborated with Movement Labs, a local dance community in Munich led by Ana Fernandez. Together, we co-led a volunteer team, coordinated live performers, onboarded artists, supported the programme and welcomed the public.

Artists, dancers, musicians, creatives, volunteers, community members and visitors all became part of the festival.

And that was important to me.

Everyone who believed in cultural representation was invited.

There was no requirement to belong to a particular institution, come from a particular country, or have a certain level of recognition.

The idea was simple: if you had something to share, a story to tell, a culture to represent, or simply the curiosity to listen — there should be a place for you.

So, does culture unite us?

I started Storya with a belief that culture can bring people together.

After organising the festival, I still believe it.

But I also think it is more complicated than that.

Culture doesn't automatically unite people.

People do.

Culture creates the opportunity.

It gives us something to gather around. A song. A dance. A painting. A story. A food tradition. A memory.

But it is the people who choose to listen, participate, collaborate and make space for one another.

Storya reminded me that cultural exchange isn't something that happens simply because people from different backgrounds are placed in the same room.

It has to be designed, facilitated and cared for.

Someone has to create the space.

Someone has to make the invitation.

Someone has to make sure different voices are heard.

And, most importantly, people have to be willing to show up.

What Storya taught me

Three months wasn't a lot of time to organise a festival.

But perhaps the biggest lesson wasn't about how quickly an event can be produced.

It was about what can happen when an idea is shared — and other people decide to believe in it too.

Storya was built through collaboration.

It was artists saying yes.

Volunteers giving their time.

Communities opening their doors.

Performers sharing their work.

People showing up.

And strangers meeting for the first time.

That is what I will remember most.

Not that we managed to organise a festival in three months.

But that we made a space where people could come together.

Maybe culture doesn't unite us by itself.

Maybe it simply gives us a reason to come together.

And what we do with that opportunity is up to us.

 

Until the next,

Louise