Project Kick-off in Marzahn: Sparkling Encounters — The Art of Coming Together
We are happy to continue the connections we established last year with a new project: Sparkling Encounters — The Art of Coming Together. From October 2025 untill September 2026, residents of the shared accommodation facility in Bitterfelder Straße and their neighbors in Berlin-Marzahn will come together through creative workshops, shared meals, and cultural celebrations. The project is funded by Der Berliner Projektfonds Kulturelle Bildung (KUBI) and realized in collaboration with Dorothee Ruge, Barbara Klinker, Hero (Bitterfelder Unterkunft), BENNplus, and DRK-Kreisverband Berlin-Nordost e.V.
At the center of the project is fire — a symbol of warmth, gathering, and shared experience. Participants will explore this element through ceramics, storytelling, music, language activities, collages, and shadow plays, as well as cooking together. These workshops give people playful ways to express themselves, share traditions, and build connections across cultures.
The project encourages a participatory approach, inviting participants to shape activities and contribute their own stories, ideas, and memories. Language and cuisine provide simple ways to communicate, connect, and experience each other’s cultures firsthand.
Two public celebrations will highlight the year: a fire festival on the Summer Solstice (June 21, 2026) and a fire festival on the Autumn Equinox (September 23, 2026). Both will feature collaborative artworks, music, performances, and shared meals, co-created with participants.
Sparkling Encounters will conclude with an exhibition at the gatehouse of the Prater Gallery, where participants will present their contributions through objects, photographs, sound recordings, and live performances. By turning the gatehouse into an open, self-organized meeting place, the project fosters lasting connections, strengthens self-confidence, and encourages intercultural exchange and social integration.
Contact
Martina Del Ben
Delben@berlin-mondiale.de
