Let's bring together whatever fabrics we have and sew them together to create a collective textile intervention at Melanchthon Church in Essen!

This Open Call is part of the Manifesta 16+ programme, and will take place every day from the 25th of August to the 15th of September 2026 from 10.00 -17.00. Anyone interested can register via the e-mail below.

What happens when we wrap a church in the stories of its neighbourhood? For this project, people from Essen and the surrounding area are invited to become part of a collective art project. Together, we will collect, share stories, write, create, and sew fabrics into a growing installation on the façade of Melanchthon Church. Many pieces of fabric are more than just material. They carry memories of a journey, a home, a farewell, a childhood, a family, or a new beginning. Especially in stories of migration, textiles often become archives of memory, loss, protection, and hope.

What to bring: A piece of clothing, a curtain, bed linen, fabric scraps, a scarf , or any other piece of fabric that has personal significance. Or simply bring a piece of fabric that you find beautiful.

We will sew these fabrics together into large textile panels. Out of many individual pieces, a collective artwork will emerge: a woven fabric of memories, experiences , and encounters.

On the final day of the sewing sessions, the completed textile panels will be installed on the façade of Melanchthon Church, where they will remain on display until the end of Manifesta 16 Ruhr.

Bring a piece of fabric and join us in creating a collaborative artwork. We look forward to welcoming you! Sign up for the sewing activity and workshops today.

Address:

Melanchthonkirche- Ev. Erlöserkirchengemeinde Holsterhausen, Melanchthonstraße 3 ,
45147 Essen