Volkshortus Selwerd
A greenhouse in Selwerd for everyone!
Come and garden, plant along, or come and watch!
Opening hours (from March 15): Thursday to Saturday | 1-5 p.m.
Volkshortus
From March 15, Volkshortus Selwerd will be open again! After two successful seasons, Volkshortus has found a new location in the courtyard between Gelderse Roosstraat and Hazelaarstraat. 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
In Volkshortus Selwerd, activities are regularly organized for and by local residents.
On Saturday, March 15, at 2:00 PM, Volkshortus kicks off the new season!
During the opening, you can:
đą Swap seeds at the seed market â bring your own seeds and exchange them with others.
đģ Join the sunflower competition â get free seeds and grow the tallest sunflower in Selwerd.
đĢ Pick up a blueberry bush â distributed by MeerBomenNu.
đļ Enjoy music and colors â provided by De Cultuurslak from Vrijdag.
đĨ Taste delicious Syrian snacks, prepared by local residents.
Everyone is warmly welcome!
Education
In 2023 and 2024, Kunstpunt developed successful educational programs, welcoming over 500 students from nearby primary schools to the greenhouse. During their visit, students explored the art project in all its forms through an observation and search game. Afterwards, they created their own cardboard prints back at school.
Primary schools CBS De Wegwijzer, OBS De Pendinghe, and SBO Dr. Bekenkampschool participated, as well as students from Kamerlingh Onnes, who also engaged with the program in and around the greenhouse.
In 2025, Kunstpunt will once again develop an educational program centered around Volkshortus.
LOCATION AND OPENING HOURS
The greenhouse is located in the courtyard between Gelderse Roosstraat 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.