Neumarkt arrives
Our project
Goals and ideas
Here you can find information about the goals and the idea behind this project
Neumarkt arrives
The genesis
At the end of 2022, the idea of a walk-in nativity scene was brought to Neumarkt by city councillor and integration officer Rita Großhauser. She herself had seen a nativity scene with life-size figures in Bad Kötzing and was very enthusiastic. From the very beginning, she has been involved in the implementation with incredible commitment and dedication.
Together with Anna Lehrer from the City of Neumarkt’s Social Affairs department, a completely unique concept was developed in spring 2023. As the city of Neumarkt is part of the European Intercultural City network, the crèche should stand for mutual understanding and create encounters. It was to be designed in such a way that people could visit the crib independently and find out information about the figures and the background to the project via a QR code.
Schools and social institutions were to be recruited for the project in order to create a lot of space for tolerance and acceptance.
A total of 8 groups were found who wanted to work on this project. The original idea was followed by many discussions and preparatory meetings between all those involved. The concept and ideas continued to evolve. It was a constant flow of creativity, which Monika Bradl accompanied artistically from the very beginning. Today, the walk-in crèche is a place that offers safety and protection and truly allows every person to arrive as they are. It stands for diversity in doing, but also in being.
Background information
Who is on the project team?
Alongside Rita Großhauser and Anna Lehrer, Sharisse Laurente was the one who activated the vocational school through her own enthusiasm for the project. This was a very important part of the project, as the school played a major role in the success of the entire project.
The carpentry and metal construction department of the vocational school, under the leadership of Martin Sammer, took on the rough work for the figures and constructed the silhouette of the hut. Under his responsibility, many hours of sawing, sanding and painting were carried out in the workshop and everything was prepared so that the individual groups could then paint and design the figures.
All of the constructions, holders and fixtures for the figures were also built by hand. A project that is unique in every respect.
Lena Kunstmann is the artist behind the silhouette of the nativity scene. Her design and ideas for this inclusive project give the project the proverbial place and space to arrive. The silhouette was printed by Heck Design.
Catholic adult education also provided a lot of input, here in the person of Klaus Schubert. Thanks to him, it was possible to work together to promote the nativity scene exhibition and the walk-in nativity scene.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our building yard for their logistical support, the Upper Palatinate regional office of Immobilien Freistaat Bayern for the permission to set up the crèche, Sabine Bauer from the BFZ for her ideas at the start of the project, the civil engineering department and the building regulations department of Neumarkt town council as well as the cultural department and press office for their support and cooperation and, last but not least, our web designer Johannes Hierl for designing the posters, business cards and this homepage.
Thanks to their hard work and motivation, they have made the project what it is today; unique and very special.
Background information
Which groups are taking part?
- The vocational school in Neumarkt with Martin Sammer
- The Ostendorf grammar school with Nicola Thumann
- Regens Wagner with Stefanie Knipfer
- Pastoral care at the Weinbergerstraße secondary school with Martina Schmid-Fürsich
- The Diakonie day center with Alexander Liebsch
- The boys’ secondary school with Patrick Solar
- The creative area in the Jura workshops with Nicole Kamasys, Magdalena Lutter and Claudia Meier
- The parish of Our Lady with Pastor Stefan Wingen and Dennis Meindl-Schmidt
Regens Wagner
Ostendorf grammar school
Diaconia NAH
Vocational school NM
Law workshops
Court church
Boys' secondary school NM
Weinberger School
Background information
The special cooperation
July 11, 2024 – actually an ordinary school day just before the summer vacations, but not for Julian and Jakob from M8c.
The two pupils from the secondary school on Weinberger Straße are setting off today with their religion teacher and school pastoral officer Martina Schmid-Fürsich to the Regens Wagner School, a specialist school for curative education in Dr. Schrauth-Straße in Neumarkt. There they want to paint figures with the residents of Haus Anton, a residential and support facility for people who have suffered traumatic brain injury.
Stefanie Knipfer, coordinator of Open Help, selected three large wooden figures in cooperation with the preparation team and had them sawn out by the carpenter. Beate Guttenberger, a teacher at the HEP school, has already prepared the blanks for the campaign on the large workshop tables: the silhouette of a young girl, a boy on an e-scooter and a wheelchair user. The three figures show how different we humans are.
That “being different” is not something that divides, but something that enriches, is something that the three from Weinberger learn in a special way on this day.
The two pupils and their teacher work on the figures together with the residents of Haus Anton and area manager Christian Meyer. The Neumarkt artist Monika Bradl is on hand to advise them.
Everyone decides together which colors are suitable for which part of the figure. Then they paint. The pupils learn to observe carefully what abilities the residents of the support center have and where they need support. This leads to conversations and the interaction becomes increasingly relaxed. After two hours of concentrated work together, the three figures glow in their bright colors.
They glow because people have worked together here who have never met before.
They glow because people have engaged with each other.
They glow because people have supported each other.
They glow because people have listened to each other and talked to each other.
They glow as a sign of colorful cooperation between all people in our city!
Poster 2024
The poster for the project can be found in all municipal facilities and at some public institutions. Two figures are shown on the poster, which can also be found on the silhouette of the Hütter, in order to create a recognition value here. Important information on the poster is the duration of the exhibition as well as the opening and further tours.
QR – Code Card
The business cards can also be found in numerous public institutions. They provide a link to this homepage. The exhibition is designed in such a way that anyone can set off on their own and obtain information about each figure and the background to the project via the QR code.
Neumarkt arrives
Press report in the project phase
Here is a nice press article on the presentation of the project in the Neumarkter Nachrichten.
Neumarkt arrives
events
Opening of the walk-in crib
Lord Mayor Markus Ochsenkühn will open the nativity scene together with Integration Officer Rita Großhauser and all participating groups. All participating groups will present their figures and walk through the nativity scene together.
Where: Residenzplatz Neumarkt
When: Sunday, 01.12.2024 3 pm
Guided tour of the walk-in crib
For all those who are unable to attend the opening, there will be another opportunity a week later. Rita Großhauser, the integration officer, will take the time once again to walk through the crèche with anyone who is interested.
Where: Residenzplatz Neumarkt
When: Sunday, 08.12.2024 3 pm
Neumarkt arrives
How can I support the project?
We would like to highlight the companies and organizations that actively support our project. They are an essential part of our project’s success.
Without the great support of our sponsors and partners, it would not be possible to realize such projects. Thank you very much!
Would you also like to support us or take part in the project yourself in the coming years? Then simply send us an e-mail.