On the Trail of Zurich's Graffiti Artist: The Perfect Audio Guide for Kids and Families
“Hi, I’m Elin and I’m eleven years old. I spent half a year learning about Harald Naegeli and thought he was really cool. That’s why I’ve put together a tour for you. I’m going to introduce you to my favorite characters!”
This is how the walking tour led by eleven-year-old Elin begins—she created her own audio guide about Zurich’s famous graffiti artist.
A kids' tour following in the footsteps of Zurich's graffiti artist
Thanks to the “School in the Museum” project, Elin and Helena, two fourth-graders, were able to organize a graffiti tour through Zurich. But what exactly does that mean? Once a week for half a year, students visit the Musée Visionnaire for an in-depth exploration of art and the museum. Elin and Helena were particularly fascinated by Harald Naegeli’s work. In addition to their own initiative, the young art detectives were supported by two professionals: Anna-Barbara Neumann, the executive director of the Harald Naegeli Foundation and the artist’s closest collaborator, as well as Manuela Hitz from the Musée Visionnaire, who accompanied the project.
What the press is saying about the children's audio guide
Elin recorded her own audio guide. The tour has since become very popular and has been promoted on various channels. The Tagesanzeiger, Ron Orp, the Children’s Culture Calendar (kikuka), and many other websites have already reported on the free audio guide for families. Usage statistics also show that the audio guide is a huge success.
Audio Guide Experiences for the Whole Family
This example shows once again that audio guides need to be simple—both for those who create them and for the listeners who use them. That way, you can share exciting stories and focus on the storytelling itself. In total, there are already five audio guides about Harald Naegeli’s work —for adults and children.
To encourage engagement with history, science, and culture, as well as to foster media literacy and curiosity among children and students, we welcome every contribution. That’s why, for example, we support school classes and university programs with a free audio guide.
Who is the graffiti artist from Zurich?
But perhaps you’re wondering: Who is this mysterious graffiti artist anyway? The fascinating story begins in the 1970s. Back then, the “Zurich Graffiti Artist” caused a stir for the first time. Graffiti appeared overnight in Zurich. In the years that followed, a myth grew up around the unknown artist, whose works were mainly viewed as vandalism at the time. Hundreds of charges of property damage were filed, and a reward was offered. In 1979, Harald Naegeli was caught in the act and arrested for the first time. In the years that followed, he traveled and worked in various places. In June 1981, he was sentenced in Zurich to nine months in prison and ordered to pay substantial fines for repeated property damage. Even though Naegeli was initially able to evade arrest: an international manhunt is launched for him. In 1983, Harald Naegeli is finally stopped at a passport control checkpoint and identified. In 1984, he is extradited to Switzerland. After serving his sentence, he leaves Switzerland and spends the following years in Düsseldorf. The diversity of graffiti in Zurich and Düsseldorf can be explored via an online platform and various audio guides.
Naegeli continues to draw to this day and is constantly creating new works. For an overview, please refer to the Harald Naegeli Foundation. His biography certainly provides material for more than one documentary: The film “Harald Naegeli – The Sprayer of Zurich” offers a great introduction for anyone who wants to learn more about the background of his story.
Art for All Ages: Audio Guides for Families
This example shows how young female students can discover the history of contemporary art for themselves—and how the general public can benefit from it. We’re also pleased that Elin and Helena now offer a physical platform as well; their target audience is children between the ages of eight and twelve.
