- documenta
Press release of the City of Kassel:
The City of Kassel has purchased the artwork Public Daycare / Eltern und Kleinkinder Krippe (Public Daycare / Parents and Babies Crèche) by artist Graziela Kunsch – a work that garnered great enthusiasm at documenta 15 held at the Fridericianum. A fundraising campaign made the purchase possible.
The artwork can now be seen and enjoyed, initially temporarily, at Wolfsschlucht 18A. It will form part of a new inner-city meeting, play, and learning space for children and young people aged 0 to 12, which is the initiative of non-profit organization Gewächshaus e.V.
Commenting on the project, Lord Mayor Sven Schoeller said: “I would like to thank all supporters whose financial contributions have helped to ensure that the documenta artwork is preserved for Kassel. The purchase and making Public Daycare accessible to the public are further important building blocks in our efforts to keep the spirit of documenta alive in our city in between exhibitions. At the same time, the artwork represents a wonderful and educationally valuable addition to the creative offerings for our youngest citizens.”
Purchase of the Artwork by the City of Kassel
During documenta 15, the artwork Public Daycare / Eltern und Kleinkinder Krippe by Brazilian artist Graziela Kunsch, was part of Fridskul (Fridericianum as a School) and created a space for learning and meeting on the ground floor of the Fridericianum Museum. The “Parents and Babies Crèche” for children aged 0 to 3 years and their caregivers, which is inspired by the educational approach of the 20th century Hungarian pediatrician Emmi Pikler, was so popular that the City of Kassel, together with documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGmbH and the artist, launched a fundraising campaign in which private donors as well as foundations and companies participated. In addition to the private donations, the support of the cdw Foundation, Kasseler Sparkasse, Wintershall Dea AG, Volksbank Kassel Göttingen, and the Gerhard Fieseler Foundation all contributed significantly to the successful purchase. The total sum for the acquisition, including all other services and ancillary costs, amounts to around EUR 80,000.
Prof. Dr. Andreas Hoffmann, Managing Director of documenta und Museum Fridericianum gGbmH, adds: “Graziela Kunsch’s artwork Public Daycare quickly became one of the favorite sites for visitors at documenta 15. I am therefore particularly pleased that the artwork has been secured for Kassel thanks to the commitment of so many people. And indeed I do believe in the special potential of this artwork as a cultural space in its own right – as a low-threshold cooperation space, a direct networking site, and as a lighthouse project for rethinking living art.”
Temporary Location for Public Daycare at Wolfsschlucht 18A
Public Daycare now has a temporary home at Wolfsschlucht 18A. Gewächshaus e.V. is currently designing a new inner-city meeting, play, and learning space for children and young people aged 0 to 12 and their parents or caregivers, which will also bear the title Gewächshaus. The “Parents and Babies Crèche” will be integrated into this in cooperation, with the City of Kassel as the owner, and will cater to the needs of the youngest users. The City of Kassel is supporting the management of the artwork with EUR 15,000 per year. The artist Graziela Kunsch, who is responsible for the architectural adaptation of the artwork to the new spaces together with Kassel-based artist Elke Avenarius, emphasizes: “The new premises are also about creating a place with Public Daycare where the main focus is not on teaching infants and toddlers by their parents. Instead, the aim is to enable adults to learn from their babies and promote their autonomy. Observing free play activities helps adults to better understand their children and subsequently support their natural development.”
The Gewächshaus is a non-commercial space specially designed for families with children offering activities for adolescents of different ages. Sarah Metz from Gewächshaus e.V. explains: “Our aim with the Gewächshaus is to create a cost-free and barrier-free space that promotes play, creativity, and integration and appeals to as many people as possible. Families are welcome to use the space and its facilities in a self-reliant way, meet up there, or take part in the workshops on offer with their children. The Gewächshaus therefore meets the urgent need for a meeting place for children and their carers in Kassel’s city center.”
The Gewächshaus is currently being set up, opening its doors for the first time on July 16, 2024. The new location will then be available to all interested parties every Tuesday to Saturday from 1.00 pm to 6.00 pm. The Gewächshaus will initially run on a trial basis until May 31, 2025.
Background: Public Daycare / Eltern und Kleinkinder Krippe – a documenta 15 Artwork
During documenta 15 (2022), the Fridericianum was transformed into the Fridskul (Fridericianum as a School). During the 100-day exhibition, the ground floor of the building was a dynamic space with a focus on the exchange of knowledge, stories, and experiences and was designed as a corresponding meeting and community space. It housed the projects Gudskul, ruruKids, Common Library, and Graziela Kunsch’s Public Daycare / Eltern und Kleinkinder Krippe. The Public Daycare project consisted of transforming a 200 square meter space within the Fridericianum into a free venue for children aged 0 to 3 and their caregivers. Inspired by the pedagogical approach of Hungarian pediatrician Emmi Pikler (1902-1984), Graziela Kunsch talked about her findings on free movement development and mindful interaction with young children, enabling them to experience respectful interaction right from their early years. The crèche area, specially designed with Kassel project partner Elke Avenarius, allowed visitors to experience this at first hand. The physical components of the artwork were put into storage following documenta 15. Already during the documenta 15 exhibition period, a committed group of supporters was formed who campaigned for the long-term retention of the artwork Public Daycare in Kassel and actively participated in the deliberations regarding its purchase, operation, and storage. With the successful acquisition of Public Daycare by the City of Kassel, the artwork is now accessible again at Wolfsschlucht 18A.