Inquiry at KREA during summertime: "What's my connection?"
In the heart of Refrath, a spacious playground transformed into a creative haven from July 21-25, 2025. This was the setting for an extraordinary summer workshop, led by six professional coaches from the local cultural and art scene.
The project, named "Open Source," was developed and implemented in a participatory and interdisciplinary manner. It aimed to strengthen the basics of lived democracy and promote freedom through art and culture, creating free spaces for creative workshops. The unique setting on a large meadow fostered a connection with nature, encouraging the testing of new creative concepts.
Gregor Zootzky, a Media and Art Educator, led creative workshops using natural materials like wood and clay. The results were structures, houses, castles, and a unique miniature landscape. Meanwhile, Markus Parnow, an Art Educator & Coach, facilitated abstract and concrete artworks on canvas and paper, surprising the young artists with the results.
Jens Mühlhoff, a Music Educator and Media Educator, led music workshops where sounds, voices, and nature sounds were combined with digital apps to create audio plays, music pieces, and sound collages. Dance workshops were conducted daily by Daniel Richartz, a Dance Coach, focusing on creative movement tasks and culminating in a self-designed choreography.
A joint performance with the question "What am I connected to?" was presented, revealing answers such as connections to one's origins, nature, friends, parents, and the KREA. The performance was led by Christoph Wolf and Miriam Burger, Theater Educators from Young Theater Siegburg.
The project aimed to enable participation for young people who may not have access due to family, financial, or social reasons. A total of 50 young people between 10-14 years (m/f/d) participated, including project management, coaches, and pedagogical specialists. The project was funded by the Kultur-Rucksack NRW, offering free participation to all.
While there is no widely known open source project directly connected to the Creative School Bergisch Gladbach, the interdisciplinary nature of this project undoubtedly reflects the school's commitment to fostering creativity and cultural engagement among young people. For more detailed or updated information about such a project, one might need to consult the school’s official website or contact them directly.
- The Open Source project, with its focus on lifestyle, education, and self-development, provided a unique home-and-garden experience by transforming a spacious playground into an artistic environment where young participants could learn various creative skills, fostering their connection with nature and promoting freedom through art.
- In line with the Creative School Bergisch Gladbach's commitment to fostering creativity and cultural engagement among young people, the Open Source project offered free spaces for creative workshops that encompassed home-and-garden, art, music, and dance, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the school's ethos.
