Art project in Birkenfeld: Children design power boxes in a colorful and creative way!

Art project in Birkenfeld: Children design power boxes in a colorful and creative way!

In Birkenfeld, the community is getting creative: four artists, including Petra Schneider-Wiertz and Hans-Peter Lampel, visited the newly designed power boxes in the new development area “Vor Klopp” on November 25, 2025. Bright colors and imaginative motifs decorate the boxes, which were designed with great commitment by children and young people from the local youth center and special school. With the support of the OIE, which provided material and expert support, five works of art have already been created, with one more to come. The motifs range from underwater worlds to colorful rainbows and floral elements - a truly colorful sight that spices up the cityscape.

Overall, the little artists were between eight and twelve years old and either contributed their own ideas or based themselves on templates. This was not only an opportunity for artistic development, but also a platform to strengthen the sense of community - an important goal that city mayor Hans-Peter Lampel also emphasized during a tour with OIE representatives. He was impressed by the creativity of the young generation and emphasized how important such projects are for revitalizing the city.

Art in public spaces – a trend with a role model function

The Birkenfeld project is part of an ever-growing trend: art in public spaces. Another art project that engaged students in Bremen shows how power boxes can be used as creative spaces. Acrylic paints were also used here and the choice of topics was free, which led to a colorful variety of motifs. Impressionist inspiration from painters such as Claude Monet was part of the artistic process, as were the students' own ideas.

The creation of such public works of art not only offers an aesthetic benefit to the cityscape, but also promotes a strong sense of community among the participants. However, such projects are not without challenges. Students reported negative comments and vandalism they experienced during the work. Nevertheless, they rated the project overall as a great success – an enrichment for the city and a valuable experience in engaging with art.

The meaning of art in urban spaces

In a world that increasingly relies on creative urban design, the role of art in public spaces is becoming increasingly important. Initiatives like the Birkenfelder Project not only promote cultural identity, but also social cohesion. This idea was also expressed in a Learning City analysis, which suggests that public art can enrich urban life and stimulate valuable dialogues between different communities.

Abandoned corners become vibrant centers through murals and interactive installations that actively involve local residents. But as already noted in Birkenfeld and Bremen, such projects often require more than just creative minds. It also requires support from communities, good funding and the willingness of citizens to take responsibility for their surroundings. Always the challenge, but also the opportunity to reshape urban life through art.

In view of these diverse projects, it becomes clear that art in public spaces is not only a visual enrichment, but also makes an important contribution to a sense of community and a vibrant urban society. Antenna KH and KSA Bremen report on the success stories while the learning city offers further perspectives on how creative urban design improves the lives of everyone.