---

Art Camp (Solothurn SO)

Camp code:

CH-SCI 12.2

Country:

Switzerland

Start Date:

09 Aug 2025

End Date:

16 Aug 2025

Topic:

12: Art, culture and local history

Work Types:

Art / Cultural heritage / Social

Number of volunteers:

12

International age:

18 - 99

National age:

18 - 99

Extra fee to be paid in the hosting country:

100.00 Swiss Franc [2272 Mexican Peso]
Breakdown:

1. Accommodation and food: 0.00 Swiss Franc
2. Transportation: 0.00 Swiss Franc
3. Activities: 100.00 Swiss Franc
4. Hosting organisation support: 0 Swiss Franc

Purpose of extra costs:

Please be aware that there is an extra fee to cover the cost of materials used during the workcamp. Volunteers will work with different materials such as pencils, brushes, pens, painting colour, canvases, etc. The extra fee is 100 CHF (or 100 Euros) per volunteer. Volunteers have to pay the extra fee in cash to the workcamp hosting partner on site.

Spoken Language:

English

Motivation letter:

This camp requires an additional motivation letter to explain in more detail why you would like to attend.

Description: The "Creative Factory" (Atelier "Kreativ-Werkstatt"), which is to be understood as an art space, is open to young artists, teachers, children, young people, and others interested. It offers users various opportunities to develop their creative skills. People should be able to meet and exchange ideas in an unconventional way that is neither consumption- nor profit-oriented, and be encouraged to spend their time in a meaningful way. The "Creative Factory" works in a project-oriented way and involves the participants in planning and implementing events and activities. The “Creative Factory” and Gabriella Affolter, who is in charge of the project were awarded several times.

Type of Work: During 8 days people work on intercultural written images. Together, people create small-format wedge frames with the material available. Using a brush, pen, pencil or other tools and natural material, people will write their own short texts, poems, word collages, etc. or those of writers on the canvases to be created. It's a combination of different aspects: It's about cultural exchange as you do and listen to daily inputs about the countries and contexts, the volunteers are from; it's a food exchange as you always cook in groups in the evening; and it's for sure about arts as you will be working on the intercultural written images and there will be two different workshops offered: plaster and wires as well as henna tattoos. Arts is kind of the medium of it all.

Study Theme: During workshop discussions you deal with political, social and artistic questions. The study theme also depends on your interests, feel free to make suggestions. This workcamp is the perfect opportunity to learn about arts, your creativity and yourself!

Accommodation: The accommodation (Scout House) is located near the forest, but close to the city. There are mattresses & sheets available (but no beds) in two big rooms. Sleeping bags and pillows need to be brought personally for hygiene reasons. There are toilets and showers. There is a big common space, a kitchen, a terrace and lots of green space around the house, where you can e.g. play Ping Pong. There is no washing machine and no Wi-Fi. The camp coordinator will buy the food for the participants. The participants cook and clean themselves.

Language: The communication among the international volunteers happens in English. As some local people will join, also German might be used.

Requirements: You need to bring your sleeping bag & pillow as well as old clothes that can get dirty (you will paint).

Notes: Food can be obtained from regional and sustainable resources – we recommend you to limit your meat consumption, so as to contribute to the camp’s principle of sustainability.

INCOMING/ADDITIONAL FEE for volunteers applying via Partner organisations & Contacts of SCI: https://scich.org/en/incoming-fee/

SCI Switzerland wants to support the non-consumption and non-profit character of the "Creative Factory", where people can meet and exchange ideas and develop their creative skills. SCI Switzerland believes that intercultural exchange through art is a very valuable method and experience.

In case you are a culturally creative, work in this field or have experience, you would like to share with the other volunteers, please get in touch with the workcamp hosting partner before the workcamp.

Organization Description: SCI Switzerland is a non-profit organisation which promotes intercultural exchange, sustainable development and non-violent conflict resolution. It has been organising workcamps and long-term exchanges for volunteers worldwide since 1920. Each year more than 100 volunteers from Switzerland engage in SCI projects abroad, while around 200 international volunteers participate in projects in Switzerland. SCI Switzerland is certified by the Intermundo quality label, which guarantees high quality standards in youth exchange. Swiss workcamps are mainly focused on the work with youth as well as in the area of environmental protection. That is why among SCI Switzerland`s values is also an environmentally friendly lifestyle in accordance with the ideas of sustainable development. Volunteers are encouraged to be eco-friendly, especially when travelling to Switzerland and during the projects. Before applying be aware of high travel costs within Switzerland and check prices on the railway website www.sbb.ch. A participation in the camp from the first until the last day is needed for reason of instruction and group dynamic.