Good morning ladies and gentlemen.

I’ve been very much looking forward to attending today’s first ever Copenhagen Cultural Children’s Summit; where the focus is on how arts and culture can help stimulate and inspire children to reach their full potential.

I believe we all know someone who suddenly flourished, when they became part of the school play, when they got involved in redecorating the school or started dancing or playing a musical instrument. Arts and culture can introduce another way of expressing oneself, which provides a channel to explore a new found talent or talents and show other sides of one’s personality.

Arts and culture can open up a world of opportunities for a child. It can motivate and inspire in new ways. It can stimulate the brain and improve creativity as well as providing a more nuanced view of the world. It can be that crucial key to a group, where everyone feels accepted and valued. And it can raise a child’s self-esteem and give rise to a dream.

In my foundation, The Mary Foundation, our aim is to prevent and eliminate social isolation based on the belief that everyone has the right to belong. One of our three target areas is Bullying & Wellbeing and it has become very clear to us, that being part of a positive children’s group with room for differences is crucial to the wellbeing of children. And when a child thrives, it leaves room for learning, Feeling secure and accepted is simply, fundamental to a child’s development.

Access to activities within arts and culture can create exactly that; a sense of belonging and self-worth. A creative and artistic process together with other children can help a child’s development greatly and generate a self-belief that makes even reading and math easier. Reaching ones full potential is often closely linked to one’s own and other’s expectations.

Arts and culture can heighten those expectations through positive experiences - making what once seemed impossible, possible.  It is all about raising the bar, as well as the vision.

Supporting children in reaching their full potential is a complex task. There is no single recipe that fits all. Motivation comes in many shapes and forms. That is why it is so important, that we have an open mind towards the many different paths to fulfilling ones true potential.

I hope that the Copenhagen Cultural Children’s Summit will open our minds further to the power of the arts and culture plays; in our children’s development, in creating  inclusive groups and communities and in motivating and inspiring our children to dream big. 

It is a great pleasure for me to declare the Copenhagen Cultural Children’s Summit of 2016 open.