What is the KinderKunstLabor?

The KinderKunstLabor in St. Pölten’s Altoonapark is a place of encounters between children, artists, and international contemporary art. It is a platform for visual arts, diverse media, installations as well as design and architecture. Children up to the age of 12 are at the centre of attention in this new venue with three exhibitions a year and a selection of interrelated thematic workshops and projects. Our aim is to reach out to them in a very special way and to support and encourage their wealth of ideas and creative energies on the long term. A child’s perspective is the main cornerstone of the programme. Art-affine adults, experts in curating and mediation as well as individuals from the young visitors’ environment – such as parents, grandparents, and educators – can encounter positions from the international art scene, participate in artistic experiments, and immerse themselves in the perspectives of children. A day at the KinderKunstLabor is for everyone more than just a visit to an exhibition; it promises a rich and intense experience: from the toddlers’ play area to the in-house café, from the exhibition spaces to the workshops, where visitors can actively participate.

It all starts with art: in dialogue with the artists and artworks, children and young people can take a critical stance and become creative on their own. Sensual-aesthetic concepts encourage discovery-driven learning and educational processes that enable third-space aesthetic experiences beyond everyday routines and rules.

Young participants in the art ideas workshop and groups from the Children’s Advisory Board develop the themes and content of the programme together with artists in co-creation processes. Involved on all these different levels, they contribute to the character of the place and transform it: the KinderKunstLabor becomes their place.

In keeping with the changing requirements, social circumstances, and personal concerns of the younger generation and a society in flux, the contents of the KinderKunstLabor can and should continue to grow and evolve as a learning institution. The knowledge gained in institutional practice is scientifically evaluated and shared in various research formats.