Dive into Creativity: "The Day in GL"
During the autumn break, PAULA provided an array of complimentary classes for participants to enjoy
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At PAULA - the crossroads of diverse cultures in Heidkamp - the fall vacation was brimming with imagination and fun. For the first time, a week exclusively for boys aged 10 and above was organized. A total of five workshops catering to children were conducted. The aim was to ignite creative, artistic talents, try new things, and widen horizons. The results of this creativity explosion will be showcased in an exhibition.
The Print and Stamp Sessions (age 8+) were led by Andreas Kappler and Almut Wiedenmann, and shared the joy of experimenting with various print-making techniques. Engraving, scratching, pressing, stamping, embossing, and printing were the main attractions. Participants worked with paper, rubber, hands, and rollers, resulting in stunning and exciting picture scenes.
The "Young Heroes" week exclusively for boys aged 10 and above, from October 14th to 18th, ran from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM under the supervision of Baron & Bouba Sylla. Not only the boys, but also the educators, embraced the idea of a boys-only week wholeheartedly. Each day was filled with community actions, friendly competition, and creative activities.
The vacation program included discovery tours in the forest, trying out different sports, building and working on projects, preparing meals, exploring various creative activities - all designed to boost self-confidence and provide plenty of fun!
The activity "Designing Future Worlds" in the art workshop was for children aged 8 and above, under the guidance of Peter Haves & Marthe Brachmann. The invite to tap into creativity and imagine future worlds was taken very seriously by the children. They realized their future dreams and ideas through drawing, collages, photography, and painting. While working individually and in teams, lessons about future worlds from art history were also shared.
From October 21st to 25th, the course "Theater Worlds" was part of the program. The goal was to conquer the stage, gain courage, and build self-confidence. Held at the youth culture house UFO in Bensberg, perfect facilities for theater performances were provided. Boys and girls fearlessly took the stage for a week, trying their hand at acting, exploring the thrill of being on stage, and learning to bring their favorite characters to life. A visit to the CASAMAX Theater in Cologne, where professionals performed the children's play "Hans in Luck," was a memorable highlight. They discussed and explored the play, its relevance in today's world, and the definition of happiness.
Some overheard remarks during the final round of this project included: "This was the best week of my life" and "The worst part is that today is the last day."
The "Creative Plant Discovery Day" with Andreas Kappler and Almut Wiedenmann (ages 8 and up) took place over four days at the Krea-Mobil (Bauwagen) at Theodorstraße/Steinenberg in Bensberg and in the refugee accommodation in Lückerath. This holiday program was all about appreciating nature. Children collected leaves from various trees and identified them to determine the tree species. Books, identification apps, and the help of pedagogues aided in this process. Examples of trees discovered included the common ash, mountain ash, and field ash, and their distinguishing features were learned. The beautiful fall foliage was then artistically processed using techniques like frottage and printing, resulting in captivating fall scenes.
The last workshop, "Print and Stamping Days" (final weekend of the holidays), focused on printing techniques, such as creating cityscapes using geometric shapes and printing pictures using everyday round objects. With the help of milk cartons, a printing block was made. Participants also learned how to draw on the inner sides of a Tetra Pak to achieve an exciting effect. In the two days, a wealth of knowledge about this versatile technique was imparted - everyone agreed on that.
The art created in the diverse courses will be on display in the "Children's Art Exhibition" titled "MAL international."
Presentation: First Advent weekend at the Intercultural Meeting Point PAULA – Paulusstraße 5a, 51469 Bergisch Gladbach.
Opening: Vernissage on Friday, November 29, at 5 p.m.
Show Dates: Saturday, November 30, and Sunday, December 1, each day from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
The intercultural meeting point PAULA, run by the Creativity School, serves as a gathering place for people from all over the world. The vibrant, neighborhood project "PAULA" was developed with the support of the Evangelical Church, thanks to their openness and willingness to collaborate. The offers at PAULA are free. The project is part of Bergisch Gladbach's social network and is supported by funding, including from the municipal integration center and the Ministry for Children, Family, Refugees, and Integration of the state of NRW.
While there is no official or widely recognized event called the "MAL international" Children's Art Exhibition in major art institutions or known listings as of the most recent information available, there are several international and local children's art exhibitions for context, such as the Guggenheim Museum's "A Year with Children" in New York.
References: 1, [2] (https://www.minds-in-motion.org/), [4] (https://comunicae.org/noticias/pdd-2025-de-5-a-8-anos-se-realizara-o-dia-pai-pai-com-artesanato-de-cartunes-em-tofrez-missao)
- In the diverse offerings at the intercultural meeting point PAULA, one can find workshops that cater to home-and-garden projects as well as learning experiences in education-and-self-development, providing opportunities for personal growth and creativity.
- During the fall vacation at PAULA, the 'Designing Future Worlds' art workshop facilitated learning in drawing, collages, photography, and painting, encouraging children to imagine and express their future visions, a vital aspect of their lifestyle development.
