Forget the dreary everyday life by living out creativity – outside the #Corona crisis, KRASS gives children the tools to do so at the pro bono KiA from Mondays to Fridays, from 4-6 p.m. each day at Linienstrasse 78 in Düsseldorf. And for parents and children, the workshops are free! You can also view more photos here.
It has been open for over 2 years now. “My heart’s desire”, as Claudia Seidensticker calls the KRASS KinderAtelier. Because she helped plan it from the ground up. She has invested her heart and soul and time.
But above all, because of the little artists who drop by – quite shyly at first, sometimes with little self-confidence. “I can’t do it,” the artists Barbara, Duschka, Katja, Melanie, Mareike and Katja often hear.
Then they sit down next to the kids, pick up the brush themselves or mix the colors, show the techniques. Showing that there is something to the saying: “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
And then something happens that always amazes us at KRASS: the kids leave their protective walls, come out of their shells, confide in the artists and trust in themselves. This is especially evident during picture discussions, where the kids tell us something about their artworks. Whether they paint with Mareike’s pastel chalk, make small boats out of Barbara’s natural materials, or build a model village out of the tetrapaks that Tine collects: Behind each work of art are entire stories, incredibly exciting and touching. A matter of the heart.
You want to have a look at the boats and the other works of art? Visit us also on Facebook!
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
This was THE EXPERIENCE for a total of 70 young and young-at-heart Düsseldorfers and refugees aged 12 to 16: participation in the Shrove Monday parade at Carnival 2019 in Düsseldorf!
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
In 2019, in addition to the long-term vision “Free access to culture and education for ALL children” for the 10th anniversary of the association, we also had the short-term vision “Point out children’s rights at the carnival!”.
The idea was implemented with the own motif wagon “ARCHE NOAH” under the motto “Children have rights. The young people were involved in the motif float construction under the direction of the Jacques Tilly team. The young participants were prepared for the KRASSen Karnevals appearance in a total of eight different workshops/measures and contributed numerous ideas of their own for the construction of the ARCHE NOAH and the choreography of the dances as well as in the selection of music and drum pieces during the parade.
Colorful, loud artistic was the credo of the carnival project – not only for the Ark, but also for what it houses: In various workshops, the animal participants study dance – choreographies, practice music and drum pieces. Since December 2019, every Sunday afternoon was dedicated to elephant ears, tiger paws and giraffe tails, stitch by stitch, the most diverse animal costumes were created in the KRASSen KinderAtelier in Oberbilk. In the process, refugees and Düsseldorfers worked hand in hand – creating new friendships and achieving sustainable integration. Claudia Seidensticker, founder of KRASS e.V., is particularly pleased that language barriers were overcome through active cooperation and collaboration, thus strengthening the sense of community and the relationship to each other.
Nothing stood in the way of the successful implementation of the project, because in addition to the dedicated kids and instructors, the association can look forward to several generous sponsors. But read for yourself:
No less than 7 dedicated employees from
METRO-NOM, the tech unit of METRO AG, have not only actively supported the project
supported the project actively and voluntarily, but also successfully
CSR program “We help” successfully organized financial support for float construction and entry fees.
organized. “Our goal was to help refugee children get acquainted with our
culture in a creative, fun way. Behind us are great
working days, but now the anticipation of the big day prevails,” says Jens Voss,
METRO-NOM employee, carnival enthusiast and now also volunteer float builder
float builder, costume designer and choreographer.
The success was also due to the intensive partnership between
KRASS e.V. and the long-established Düsseldorf-based company Sonnen Herzog, which was
which has existed since December of last year. The basis was created by the leading
wholesale company for paints, wallpapers and floor coverings with 15
branches in North Rhine-Westphalia made a Christmas donation. Instead of
customers presents at Christmas, Sonnen Herzog KRASS e.V. made a donation of
on behalf of all employees and customers a sum of 10,000 euros.
“We are happy to make a contribution to the cultural support of disadvantaged
children in our city and are thrilled about the diverse projects
that KRASS e.V. sets up. We are already very much looking forward to the Shrove Monday procession”,
says Managing Director Margarete Sonnen, who is the fifth generation to run the family business.
fifth generation. Sonnen Herzog also regularly supports the work
KRASS e.V. regularly with donations of materials. At the Düsseldorf Sonnen
Herzog headquarters at Pinienstrasse 20, private customers can also make purchases.
The team around Renate Hirschmann, founder of Elsa hilft
GmbH is pleased to be able to use this generous donation to provide the children with many
creative workshops and carefree, colorful hours. The fun of the
children to spend an unforgettable day with Noah’s Ark at the Düsseldorf
are motivation enough to continue this great project of Krass e.V..
of Krass e.V. to support.
Carmen Fett is cycling from Duesseldorf to Australia!
Our lecturer “Ms. Fett” has been on a bike trip from Duesseldorf to Eastern Europe, Asia and Australia since March 31st in order to encourage people around the world to help others and collect donations for Krass e.V.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
As Krass e.V. is not only active in Germany but has realized various projects in Athens and Shanghai, Carmen wants to make a stop at these places to carry out short-term projects with the children on site.
On her trip, Carmen will take photos with all the different people she will be meeting during and red balloons she took along. A red balloon symbolizes HOPE, EQUALITY, and LOVE. Values and objectives that our society should strive for, irrespective of religion and nationality. On her blog you can follow Carmen’s experiences during the bike tour and see her current location: www.fraufett.net
The long-term project „experiencing fairytales at the museum“, realized with the support of „Culture makes you strong”, offered various artistic activities for children between September 2018 and March 2019.
The kids were introduced to literary topics through regular group meetings and other free-time activities during school holidays. They were free to choose between dance & theatre, costume design and set design according to their preferences.
Each series of meetings ended with the groups consolidating their results and presenting them in a joint theatre performance. During the project, the kids also visited selected cultural sites, such as the castle Benrath, together with their lecturers and mentors.
The project was a great creative experience with lots of fun and artistic productivity for everyone!
Carmen Fett radelt von Düsseldorf nach Australien!
Unsere Dozentin „Frau Fett“ ist mit dem Fahrrad unterwegs. Seit dem 31. März fährt sie von Düsseldorf aus über Ost Europa und Asien bis nach Australien. Sie animiert dabei weltweit Menschen, Gutes für Andere zu tun, und somit Spenden für den KRASS e.V. zu sammeln.
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from YouTube. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
Da Krass e.V. nicht nur deutschlandweit aktiv ist, sondern unter anderem auch bereits in Athen und Shanghai diverse Projekte realisiert, fährt sie diese Städte als festes Reiseziel an, um dort ein jeweiliges Kurzzeitprojekt mit den Kindern vor Ort durchzuführen.
Ihre Botschaft dabei: „Ich werde den Willen zeigen, mit eurer Unterstützung an der Zukunft und der positiven Entwicklung der Kinder und Jugendlichen zu arbeiten, indem Sie die Möglichkeit bekommen, sich kulturell als auch künstlerisch zu entdecken und zu entfalten.“
Auf ihrer Reise werden sie Rote Ballons begleiten, welche sie mit den unterschiedlichsten Menschen, denen sie auf ihrer Reise begegnet, fotografieren wird. Ein roter Ballon als Symbol für HOFFNUNG, GLEICHHEIT und LIEBE. Werte und Ziele, nach denen unsere Gesellschaft, unabhängig von Glauben und Nationalität suchen, als auch leben sollte.Was sie auf ihrer Tour erlebt, wo sie steckt und was sie für Erfahrungen sammelt, könnt Ihr auf Ihrem Blog verfolgen: www.fraufett.net
Aktuell hat Frau Fett bereits über 2000 Kilometer zurückgelegt und Mitte April den ersten Meilenstein, mit der Grenzüberschreitung nach Österreich, erreicht. Im Anschluss passierte sie in den letzten Wochen die Slowakei sowie Ungarn und erreichte ebenfalls die nächsten Etappenziele Slowenien und Kroatien. Gastfreundschaft und Anerkennung begleiten sie auf ihrem Weg und geben ihr stets neuen Antrieb für die weite Reise.
The project “Fit for class” is aimed at children from different nations and cultures. Subjects are prepared in consultation with the teacher and his/her German language skills. A combination of language and design work should take up well-known vocabulary, consolidate and promote a good conversation culture. In regular and shared reflection, children have the opportunity to evaluate and praise each other’s work. The main focus here is the appreciation culture. A constant change of individual, partner and group work enables the children to carry out their own interests in their work, but also to develop them further in exchange with others. Attention is paid to the fact that children of all ages work together.
With this project, children of the international class will have the opportunity to develop their social skills in the encounter with different cultures. This is to be done by learning in a joint creative work, creatively implementing ideas together and working together towards an artistic goal. In addition, the project is intended to consolidate the relationship levels, thereby strengthening their self-awareness and self-esteem. By eliminating school pressure through grades, they experience a work that is focused on them alone. It is not the goal of a finished work that is primarily the focus, but the artistic path to it.
Especially in international classes, this experience is important in order to cope with the many requirements that will be experienced during their integration into a foreign education system. It is therefore both the body’s own image and the individuality that is the focus of this work, which should be strengthened and enthusiasm should be awakened / lived.
The creative interaction of the elderly and the younger also promotes responsibility, artistic development and new experiences. Cultural diversity and values are used. Creative self-management takes place especially in the individual work their space, but is also used in the joint
In the children’s clinic foyer of the University Hospital of Düsseldorf, a labyrinth is created. The children of all wards design the 3-piece work to the extent of 4m × 1.50m.
After completion it will hang in the entrance area and embellish and enrich the path into the children’s clinic.
Until then intensive work is being done developing the unique piece of art. The children leave their traces of color on the paths of the labyrinth supported by parents, clinic staff and the public. Work is done in an intense, special and connected atmosphere.
Thoughts, which Mareike van Elsbergen (art therapy degree) has transcribed.
How magically people are attracted to labyrinths. Children and adults often enter walkable labyrinths spontaneously and run the lines.
This labyrinth is to be done with the eyes and other senses.
The path is designed by the children of the wards of the University Clinic Düsseldorf. The children have left their tracks in the context of a symbol that has left its mark on our cultural history for at least 5000 years. With brushes and acrylic paints, the labyrinth was further developed on several project days.
The labyrinth can be understood as a symbol of the way of life. In his center we can discover ourselves.
Those who follow the labyrinth encounter breaking away and letting go, the turns that lead us back to the knowledge in the middle and the way out again.
The labyrinth as a place of encounter.
All who are connected with it, follow a map of the soul. Following the labyrinth is like a journey to one’s self.
From the 9th until the 17th July 2012 the topics stage, theatre, dance and music were presented in the project “We make theatre from A-Z” to 205 children from age 6-14 under an interdisciplinary approach and finally were implemented in a creative way in order to the individual interests of the participants. The different aspects of the project were divided and realized in the recreational facility for children and adolescents “Kamper 17” (musical & stage, 9 th until 13 th july) as well as in the Joachim-Neander Schule at the Rather Markt 2.
First of all the theatre history and various techniques of theatre productions were presented. Later a set decoration and stage modules were developed and implemented, an own storyboard was thought up and realized in a straight theatre. Finally a musical was concepted. In a final performance including the self-made set decoration and accompanied by a band the children presented what they had learned.
During the project an increasing self-confidence of the children and often a self-initiated willing to take responsibility could be observed. Moreover the participants developed communicative skills, learned to work in a team as well as artisanal techniques and artistic forms of expression.
“It is important to me that what I do has a meaning. And this I find when working with children and youngsters “, Aisha Sabbouh-Eggert says. The 49-year-old visual artist with a degree from the Düsseldorf Art Academy, has been project manager of the art bus since the beginning of 2016.
The art bus has been touring through Düsseldorf since 2011 and stops around playgrounds and in refugee camps. One of the priorities of KRASS in 2016 is the area around Fürstenplatz. The project was initiated in cooperation with the Düsseldorf youth welfare office and the Kulturrucksack NRW. In addition, the bus regularly visits the various accommodations for refugees in the state capital.
A welcome change from everyday life
“Around 20 kids are around when the bus arrives at the Fürstenplatz playground, usually Saturdays 3 to 5 pm”, Sabbouh-Eggert says. Especially the children in the refugee homes are happy about the colorful change whenever the bus arrives. The offer is directed at all children and young people who simply can join instantly without any registration. “We want to particularly give this opportunity to children whose parents might otherwise not be able to afford providing their children with cultural activities”, the artist says.
The bus has all utensils for artistic design on board, ranging from paint, paper and brushes to special things that Sabbouh-Eggert brings along. “Sustainability is very important to me. Therefore, I have already brought packaging material that the children have then upcycled” she says. From time to time she also brings fabric, being an essential part of her own artistic work. “Then the children may also sow”, she says. There are no strict guidelines: “I simply suggest a topic. The children are then allowed to freely develop artistically.”
Praise and recognition for young creatives
The experienced freelance artist with a pedagogue background, who teaches art in many schools, supports the implementation of young creatives’ ideas. And of course there is also a lot of praise and recognition for the small artistic souls.
Educational experience and artistic knowledge are prerequisite in order to conduct this project. The identification with the vision of KRASS is very important. “Of course the preparation takes a lot of time”, Sabbouh-Eggert says. But above all, the lively exchange with the children is not only fun for them, but also for her.
Appointments can be requested
Even on special occasions like the Hohestraßenfest or the NRW-Day, the art bus is on site. For Information on when and where the colorful bus has its next stop, please contact Claudia from KRASS under telephone number +49 170/2416859. Anyone willing to join the project, can also make an appointment for a personal talk at c.seidensticker@krass-ev.de.
