"Multi Art": Photo exhibition of the European youth camp

The European youth camp organised by the city of Bocholt took place last week at the Europa-Haus in Bocholt. The theme of this year's camp was "European Youth Art: Boundless Art in the European City of Bocholt". The results of the camp, entitled "Multi-Art", can be seen in the foyer of the LernWerk Bocholt until 19 August.

"United in diversity" - that is the motto of the European Union. This motto describes the European cultural landscape and thus also the cultural co-operation with the friendly and partner cities of the European City of Bocholt. Because culture in all its colours, facets and forms connects us in Europe across borders.

51 young people aged between 14 and 17 from Bocholt (Germany) and Bocholt's twin towns Bocholt (Belgium), Rossendale (Great Britain) and Akmene (Lithuania) as well as from the neighbouring Netherlands and the friendly towns of Wuxi (People's Republic of China) and Vlora (Albania) and, for the first time, Verkhniodniprovsk (Ukraine) worked on the results in four art workshops.

The Lithuanian twin town of Akmene showed the young people four traditional weaving techniques. This resulted in colourful friendship bracelets. The English twin town of Rossendale taught the young people in the field of "press photography". The task was to photograph expected and unexpected things in Germany with their mobile phones during the entire project week.

In their workshop, the Ukrainian city of Verkhniodniprovsk showed the traditional colourful folk painting "Petrykivka" with flowers and leaves. This decorates traditional clothing in Ukraine, for example, with magnificent embroidery. The young people painted round paper plates with flowers and vines. The friendly Chinese city of Wuxi taught the young people how to draw their own names in Chinese characters on tissue paper. Various printing techniques on fans and bookmarks with ink completed this workshop.

This youth exchange project on art and culture contributed to a better understanding, openness towards art and culture of other nations in a diverse European Union and to discussion. In addition to this programme, excursions were made to the Gasometer Oberhausen, where magnificent photographs show the "Planet Ocean" and to the Museum Ludwig, Cologne.

Under the guidance of the Bocholter Kunst- und Kulturgemeinschaft e.V., the young people set up the results of these workshops in the LernWerk. The exhibition can be seen from Monday to Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm and on Fridays from 8 am to 12.30 pm. Admission is free.

Funding for Bocholt youth camp

The European youth camp was sponsored by - ERASMUS + Youth, Stiftung der Stadtsparkasse Bocholt, Stiftung Rudi Ostermann, Deutsch-Britische Gesellschaft Bocholt e.V., Rotary Club (for Ukraine and Great Britain) and Engagement Global NRW.