Europe in watercolour: Workshop at Mariengymnasium Bocholt

The Franco-German art project "Light in Watercolour - Let's see Europe DIFFERENTLY!" was continued with a watercolour workshop in class 10c at Mariengymnasium. Following the exhibition by artist Claudia Brunke-Gregory at the Théâtre d'Aurillac and workshops in the French twin town, Europe has now also been brought to life creatively in Bocholt.

The exhibition in the French twin town of Aurillac took place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Franco-German Society Bocholt this year. It served to cultivate and intensify twinning relations. For the first time, the twin towns of Bocholt and Aurillac have jointly realised an art project to mark this special occasion. From 18 September to 19 October 2025, the French artists' group "Société artistique du Cantal" exhibited watercolours by Claudia Brunke-Gregory at the Théâtre d'Aurillac, capturing impressions from travels across Europe. The exhibition was accompanied by workshops and meetings with young people and artists from Aurillac and Arpajon-sur-Cère.

At Mariengymnasium, a European school with a bilingual branch, the pupils of class 10c immersed themselves in watercolour painting. The artist brought high-quality colours and paper, demonstrated basic techniques and encouraged the young people to experiment with light, transparency and perspective. This resulted in personal pictures in which they expressed their own view of Europe.

Young people experience Europe creatively

"The young people in both Aurillac and Bocholt had a lot of fun and participated with full concentration", says Claudia Brunke-Gregory, summarising her impressions. "I love how they capture moods with just a few brushstrokes and discover that Europe is much more than just a map in a school textbook." The positive feedback reinforces the desire to organise similar events in the future.

For the City of Bocholt's European Affairs Officer, Petra Taubach, the project shows how lively town twinning can be today: "The cooperation with the schools is a benefit for the young people of both cities - European friendship can be experienced in concrete terms here. Especially at a European school like Mariengymnasium, Europe literally becomes colourful in the classroom and in the art project." The close cooperation between the Franco-German Society Bocholt, the French twin towns and the European school strengthens the network across borders and sends a visible signal for dialogue, creativity and cohesion.

Franco-German citizens' fund supports art project

The project is co-financed by the Franco-German Civic Fund. This fund supports projects that bring friendship and European cooperation to life in civil society. It promotes a variety of formats, is low-threshold and open to all. The fund was founded in 2020 on the basis of the Treaty of Aachen, implemented by the Franco-German Youth Office and is jointly financed by Germany and France.