Volkshortus Selwerd
A greenhouse in Selwerd for everyone!
Come and garden, plant along, or come and watch!
Opening hours: Thursday to Saturday | 1-5 p.m.
Volkshortus
Starting March 1st, Volkshortus Selwerd is open again! The Volkshortus was created by artists George Korsmit and Saskia Janssen.
It is a greenhouse for plants, flowers, fruits, vegetables and herbs. In short, for everything that grows and blooms! The plants in the greenhouse are chosen by local residents and represent the more than 80 nationalities in the Selwerd district.
Come and enjoy the greenery in the Volkshortus and be inspired by the different plants. In the Volkshortus you can grow your own plants for free and indicate which plants you would like to see. There are also workshops for and by local residents.
Due to the greenhouse being a great success, it will remain in Selwerd until October 2024
Saskia Janssen en George Korsmit
The Amsterdam artist duo Saskia Janssen and George Korsmit often create social artworks using different media. The identity of the place and its inhabitants is the starting point. The duo recently won the Amsterdam Prize for Art with The Rainbow Soul club, an art studio in an Amsterdam shelter for the homeless and long-term drug users. The jury judged that the collective ‘breaks the boundaries between the artistic and social domain’. Volkshortus Selwerd is their first work in Groningen.
Inspired by Siep van den Berg
An interesting detail is the design of the tables in the greenhouse. It is based on the patterns and elements in the art of the Groningen artist Siep van den Berg. He made wall art throughout the neighborhood in the 1960s. View the work he made in Groningen here.
Activities
During the summer holidays there is a Green Craft Morning every Monday morning between 10 a.m. and noon. Everyone is welcome to come and do some crafts in the greenhouse. Participation is free. This is on the program:
đ
Monday July 22
đFlower-on-the-pot: Paint your own flower pot!
đ
Monday July 29
đA radiant wind catcher: Make a wind catcher from beads that shine in the sun.
đ
Monday August 5
đColor in the Greenhouse: Make up your own colored flowers from wire and cardboard.
đ
Monday August 12
đUnder Pressure: Create art from flowers and plants from the greenhouse with cardboard printing.
đ
Monday August 19
đWatering the flowers: You make them with paper and watercolor. You will never have to water these flowers again!
đ
Monday August 26
đTic-Tac-Tee with a flower and a bee: Make your own match-three game.
Up to 15 people can participate in each activity at the same time. Registration is not necessary. If it is full, you might have to wait a little while until a spot opens up. Drop by and join!
Education
Volkshortus Selwerd serves as the inspiration for an educational program that Kunstpunt has specially developed for children from the neighborhood. A tactile experience, focusing on hands-on exploration, takes center stage. Students can, among other activities, create their own plant artworks and mold pots. “It’s simply enjoyable to engage with your hands,” one of the children remarked. Over 500 students from nearby elementary schools CBS de Wegwijzer, OBS de Pendinghe, and Dr. Bekenkampschool participated.
LOCATION AND OPENING HOURS
The greenhouse is located in the courtyard between Elzenlaan and Hazelaarstraat.
Opening hours:
- Thursday 13.00 – 17.00
- Friday 13.00 -17.00
- Saturday 13.00 – 17.00
CONTACT
Do you have questions or do you have ideas for plants you want to grow? Or do you want to sign up as a volunteer?
Please contact the artists at volksshortusselwerd@gmail.com
Volkshortus Selwerd was commissioned by Kunstpunt Groningen in collaboration with the Municipality of Groningen and Nijestee.