Local Innovation: Zukunftshandwerker in Altmark, Germany

In the heart of Germany's Altmark region, often called the "Cradle of Prussia", the Zukunftshandwerker initiative by The ARCH, supported by local craftspeople and volunteers, is pioneering fresh approaches to crafts education and creativity. This ancient area, where Dutch and Flemish settlers in the 12th century made the land usable by building dikes, sets the stage for revival at the historic Rittergut Schönberg, first documented in 1378. Once a bustling center for traditional trades like brickmaking, wheelwrighting, and linen weaving, the estate has hosted influential figures over the centuries, including Baron Carl Hildebrand von Canstein, founder of the world's oldest Bible society; Wilhelm Dietrich von Bülow, a knight and chancellor of Prussia's highest chivalric order; and Konrad Schragmüller, a police commissioner with ties to World War I espionage lore. This rich legacy serves as both inspiration and a call to responsibility, especially in a very rural landscape today facing socio-economic challenges such as higher unemployment, lower wages, and limited infrastructure.

Building on successful local events, we will construct a dedicated workshop space starting in autumn. This marks the initial phase toward establishing a full crafts innovation hub, where young participants can immerse themselves in hands-on sessions exploring time-honoured techniques like woodworking, weaving, and pottery.

The facility will accommodate craft activities for up to 150 children each year, acting as an out-of-school learning site for nearby schools and kindergartens. Beyond that, it fosters intergenerational bonds as a communal gathering place, with elderly residents volunteering their wisdom and support to nurture creativity and cultural pride during the creation of a lasting venue. Envision youngsters moulding clay under open skies, mastering skills inherited across generations, it's far more than mere preservation; it's igniting passion in tomorrow's artisans amid a region ripe for revitalisation!

Stay tuned for progress reports, and if you're nearby, contact us to participate in forthcoming activities.