Retrospective
Summer Holiday Workshop 2026: The History of Holzhausen
A week full of creativity, shared discoveries and imaginative creations: at the 2026 summer holiday workshop, children worked alongside the artist Tine Steen to create their very own worlds.
Once again this year, the FAMteam at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam opened its doors to the younger members of the university community during the first week of the summer holidays. From the 13th to 17th of July 2026, the campus was transformed every day from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm into a creative meeting place for children aged between six and twelve.
Under the theme „My house, my garden, my pony and my boat“, the participants, together with the artist Tine Steen, explored the fascinating question: „How do you actually live?“ This led not only to the creation of imaginative structures, but also to very personal stories about living, coexisting and designing living spaces.
At the start of the workshop, the children sketched out their ideas before building individual house models from a wide variety of woods. Each house developed in its own unique way over the course of the week – with lovingly designed rooms, special details and creative furnishings. Every day, a new material was introduced, and so the children expanded their models to include gardens and flowerbeds made from clay, potting soil and cress seeds. They also gathered inspiration for their designs during short excursions around the campus and to the surrounding parks, where they collected natural materials and developed new ideas.
As the project progressed, the residents of the houses and their animal companions took shape using foil, paper, fabrics and faux fur. With numerous wooden building blocks, the town grew, and various buildings and facilities such as a scrapyard, a police station and the town hall were created. Whether it was a pony, a car, an aeroplane or imaginative modes of transport – the streets of the emerging city also became increasingly busy. Through their interactions with one another, the children repeatedly took up each other’s suggestions and continued to develop their creations together.
The workshop culminated in a presentation of the finished works in the university’s theatre hall. Parents, family members and members of the university community were invited to view the results of the creative week. The mayor of Holzhausen welcomed the guests, and the children presented their work with great pride, offering insights into their ideas and the creative process.
The 2026 summer holiday workshop has once again demonstrated how art, creativity and collaborative creation bring children together in conversation and give them space to express their own ideas. At the same time, the FAMteam’s holiday programme offers a special space for interaction, allowing even the youngest members of the university community to experience the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam and strengthening intergenerational bonds.
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the artist Tine Steen for her inspiring workshop design, to Julia Faßbender for her educational support, and to all the children who brought this creative holiday week to life.
