Papieri People

Stefanie Schöpfer

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Creative Workshop for Kids

MALA is about the creative process. Make new from old: that’s not just true of Papieri, but also of the MALA Creative Workshop for kids, which will be moving into Building A on Maschinengasse in January 2023.

Founder Stefanie Schöpfer tells us more about the idea behind it.

[Translate to Englisch:] Die Kinder sollen ihrer Fantasie freien Lauf lassen können. Es geht bei MALA um den Prozess und nicht um das Ergebnis.

The workshop will be a space for free creativity, where children can make works of art for which there is no time or space elsewhere. Stefanie's credo fits perfectly into the emerging quarter. The former paper mill with a history that stretches back to the 17th century is being repurposed, modernized and expanded in a huge development project.

And, in a way, the same is true of MALA: Stefanie and the children create something alive out of what is supposedly obsolete. Born in Central Switzerland, Stefanie thinks that they fit together wonderfully. There are no conditions or restrictions. The only important thing for Stefanie is that whenever possible, the children work with materials that have had a previous life. For example, empty canning jars or egg cartons are used in the craft lessons

«We make beautiful things from all this – we make new from old,»

Stefanie smiles. The children are encouraged to let their imaginations run free. MALA is about the process, not the result.

The mother of two small children is an artist herself, and has continued her education to become a playgroup supervisor. So, it made sense to her to combine the two professions and open a creative workshop for children.

«With me, the children can really live it up. The idea is not that they have to go home with a finished piece of work. MALA is a vessel where children can let their imaginations run free. It’s about the process,»

explains Stefanie. Colors, shapes, materials; cutting, gluing, painting, sawing: creativity needs freedom, and should be stimulated by everything around us.

MALA and Papieri find each other

«Everyone has been talking about Papieri since the conversion,» says Stefanie. «Out of curiosity, I looked at the website. It appealed to me, and now I’ve found a home for the MALA Creative Workshop here.» For Stefanie, this is the perfect location since there will certainly be families moving into the apartments in the neighborhood. The «Little Home» daycare center, which will open its doors at Papieri in 2024, also fits in perfectly here. Above all, Stefanie likes the fact that Papieri is so family-friendly. «The location also appeals to me because a colorful mix of people and businesses will rent here. I think the life and the vitality that will develop here is great, and I'm very excited to see what it will look like one day.»

Stefanie Schöpfer and her partner Raffael are already examining the future workshop and planning the interior design together.
Stefanie is an artist herself and the founder of the MALA Creative Workshop.

Children from the age of two are welcome at MALA, depending on the activity. From January 2023, young artists will forge their works of art here in small groups. Parent-child lessons are also planned, where children can come to the craft lessons with their parents, grandparents or godparents.

Contact

MALA Kreativatelier
Stefanie Schöpfer
Maschinengasse 14
6330 Cham

Phone +41 78 831 39 47
www.malakreativatelier.ch

Opening in January 2023

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