Art Camp (Solothurn SO)

CODE: CH-SCI W12.6

Description

The "Creative Factory" (Atelier "Kreativ-Werkstatt"), which is to be understood as an art space, is open to young artists, teachers, children, young people, and others interested. It offers users various opportunities to develop their creative skills. People should be able to meet and exchange ideas in an unconventional way that is neither consumption- nor profit-oriented, and be encouraged to spend their time in a meaningful way. The "Creative Factory" works in a project-oriented way and involves the participants in planning and implementing events and activities. The “Creative Factory” was awarded several times.

This volunteer camp is the perfect opportunity to learn about arts, your creativity and yourself!

Type of Work

During the days of the Art Camp people work on intercultural written images. Together, people create small-format wedge frames with the material available. Using a brush, pen, pencil or other tools and natural material, people will write their own short texts, poems, word collages, etc. on the canvases to be created.

The Art Camp is a combination of different aspects: It is about intercultural exchange. You will listen to daily presentations by volunteers about the countries and contexts they are from. It is also a food exchange as you always cook in groups in the evenings. And it is for sure about arts as you will be working on intercultural written images and in one workshop you will work with plaster and wires. At one point in the camp, the volunteer group will also have an exchange with local young people and additionally to this, there will also be the possibility to visit different museums during the camp. Arts is the medium of it all.

Study Theme: During workshop discussions you deal with political, social and artistic questions. The study theme also depends on your interests, feel free to make suggestions.

Accommodation

The accommodation (Scout House) is located near the forest, but close to the city. There are mattresses & sheets available (but no beds) in two big rooms. Sleeping bags and pillows need to be brought personally for hygiene reasons. There are toilets and showers. There is a big common space, a kitchen, a terrace and lots of green space around the house, where you can e.g. play Ping Pong. There is no washing machine and no Wi-Fi.

The volunteer camp hosting partner and the camp coordinator will buy the food for the participants. The participants cook and clean themselves. Food can be obtained from regional and sustainable resources – we recommend you to limit your meat consumption, so as to contribute to the camp’s principle of sustainability.

Language: The communication among the international volunteers happens in English. As some local people will join, also German might be used.

Requirements

Please note that it is a SCI volunteer camp and not an art retreat: it is therefore very much about group interactions and the experience of living together in an international group and not about individual art experience or education.

The communication among the international volunteers happens in English. As some local people will join, also German might be used (but it is not mandatory to speak German).

Extra fee to be paid in the hosting country

The extra fee of 100 CHF is used to cover the cost of materials used during the camp. Volunteers will work with different materials such as pencils, brushes, pens, painting colour, canvases, etc. Volunteers have to pay the extra fee in cash and in Swiss currency to the volunteer camp hosting partner on site.

For volunteers applying via Partner Organisations & Contacts of SCI, an additional fee of 50 EUR, also referred to as the incoming fee, is due and needs to be given in cash to the camp coordinator during the camp : https://scich.org/en/incoming-fee/

Additional information
There need to be at least 5 volunteers in order that the camp can take place.

Why did SCI Switzerland choose to support this volunteer camp? SCI Switzerland wants to support the non-consumption and non-profit character of the Creative Factory, where people can meet and exchange ideas and develop their creative skills. SCI Switzerland believes that intercultural exchange through art is a very valuable method and experience.