The She-Magicians is a series of monthly classes for school children, supposed to provoke a creative dialogue with the oeuvre of major Polish female artists. Our goal is to familiarize children with the issues of contemporary art, often wrongly considered less valuable in terms of the techniques and tools used, and incomprehensible in terms of content. Each meeting is dedicated to a different person. Our December meeting will be inspired by an exceptional artist: Katarzyna Kobro is an eminent sculptor whose many works have been lost today.

One of the lost works was truly special – it was a blueprint of a kindergarten! Katarzyna Kobro created it in response to the needs of her time, when the women’s liberation movement and the growing independence of women triggered a demand for kindergartens and nurseries. As many artists active in the period between the world wars, Kobro also took interest in designing for children; that was supposed to support their education and development. This avant-garde, modernist design of a building bathed in light will be our first task. We will try and create a model of a playground which could stand next to this kindergarten. We will take inspiration from Kobro’s sculptures, their form and an interplay of colours. Will we be able to come up with constructivist designs? Will we meet the demands of minimalist form? This is going to be a true challenge!

We invite organized groups: children aged 9-12 years together with their guardians. Classes take place twice a day (9:00-10:30 1st group, 10:30-12:00 2nd group). Admission to classes is free of charge; first come first served. Booking can be made by phone: 61 852 9501 or by e-mail: joanna.tekla@arsenal.art.pl. In order to obtain additional 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.