The Magicians is a series of monthly classes for school children, supposed to generate a creative dialogue with the legacy of renowned Polish female artists. We intend to induce kids to issues addressed in contemporary art, often regarded as less valuable in terms of the techniques and skills used and as hard to understand in terms of the message conveyed. Each meeting will be dedicated to a different artist. The September meeting, called A Story in Pictures, will be dedicated to the oeuvre of Franciszka Themerson.

Franciszka Themerson is a versatile artist: painter, illustrator, stage designer, author of experimental films. Together with Stefan Themerson, a writer and philosopher, they have created beautiful stories told in words and painted in images. These stories, while seemingly simple, are inspirational for audiences of all ages. During the workshop, we will draw on the artist's experience from various areas. We will familiarize ourselves with the issue of book illustrations and then breathe life into a created story using simple animation.

In order to shorten the distance between recipients and art works, in our classes we will look for the answer to the question of how to navigate the rough seas of ​​contemporary art, so hard to interpret. We will intertwine threads of artistic creativity with the reality that surrounds us. Inspired by great Polish artists, we will creatively reinterpret our closest surroundings, the city of Poznań.

We welcome organized groups: children aged 9-12, with carers. Classes are held on a given day twice (9am-10:30am, 1st group; 10:30am-12 noon, 2nd group). Admission to the classes is free, participants are chosen on the first come, first served basis. Reservations can be made by phone: 61 852 9501 or by e-mail: joanna.tekla@arsenal.art.pl. For more information, please contact the Gallery.

The Zielona Grupa Association is involved in broadly-construed art and intercultural education. Its educators have developed their own method of work with children and young adults. It is based, e.g. on the technique of the Japanese kamishibai theatre. They have their own publishing house and hold multiple workshops for teachers, animators and librarians. Their activities have been duly appreciated on a number of occasions, e.g. by the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Poznań Municipality, Konin County and PISOP Centre as well as by the organisers of grant-awarding competitions: Społecznik 2.0 and the Patriotism of Tomorrow.