# From a guest worker's child to a voice for culture and community

> Bilgen Pehlivan – Cultural gerontologist · Cultural and project manager · Speaker. https://bilgen-karasu.de/en/about

I am Bilgen Pehlivan, a cultural gerontologist and cultural and project manager based in Cologne. My own migration biography shapes how I see belonging and cultural diversity – and therefore my work.

As a cultural gerontologist I create cultural and musical programmes for older people, people living with dementia and their families. One focus of my work is cultural participation for people with a migration background. I run my sessions in German and Turkish.

My professional foundation is more than 35 years of experience in anaesthesia and intensive care nursing, together with my qualification as an infection control specialist. To that I have added qualifications in cultural and project management and in cultural gerontology. In my work I combine nursing experience with cultural education and musical practice.

For six years I have worked with WeltKultur Bühne e. V. Cologne as choir assistant and project manager. I accompany projects from the first idea through planning to delivery, including the women's choir, cultural events and encounter programmes for older people.

My workshops and cultural projects connect to personal life stories, languages and musical experiences, while taking the interests, possibilities and limits of the participants into account.

## What my work is built on

- **Cultural gerontology**: Qualification in cultural education work with older people and people living with dementia.
- **Cultural and project management**: Designing, organising and delivering cultural projects from idea to implementation.
- **35+ years in nursing**: Anaesthesia and intensive care nursing, plus qualification as an infection control specialist.
- **Six years of association work**: Choir assistant and project manager at WeltKultur Bühne e. V. Cologne.

## Voluntary roles in Cologne

- Chair, WeltKultur Bühne e. V. Köln (https://www.weltkulturbuehne.de)
- Board member, Kulturbunker Köln-Mülheim (https://www.kulturbunker-muelheim.de)
- Vice president, KreisChorVereinigung Köln

## Contact

- Bilgen Pehlivan, Bugenhagenstraße 37, 51061 Köln
- Phone: 0174 3292003
- Email: kontakt@bilgen-karasu.de
- Make an enquiry: https://bilgen-karasu.de/en/contact