Urban Art embroidery ‘The connecting thread’ at the Neustadt Art Festival

Focus on Solidarity – Discussions and creative workshops bring solidarity to everyday life and build new connections between people from very different life situations.

What connects us when privately created handicrafts become publicly visible?

Inspired by the Valencian artist Raquel Rodrigo, who has been bringing embroidery from the private sphere onto the streets for over a decade, we invite you to a creative workshop that links personal stories with urban art. Rodrigo describes her large-scale cross-stitch works on buildings as “an affirmation of female art that has long remained invisible”. It is precisely this spirit that we wish to capture in the workshop and bring to life together.

Embroidery as a universal language bridging the private and public spheres

At the workshop, led by artists Bela Álvarez and Andrea Bohorquez, the focus is on the idea that textiles, threads and patterns have always served as mediums for memories, identity and a sense of connection. Based on this tradition, participants will create their own small ‘urban embroidery’ pieces for the exterior façade of our office: on fabric, netting or other materials. In doing so, we will explore questions such as: What does solidarity mean in everyday life? Which stories deserve to be seen? And how can handcrafting connect spaces that otherwise seem separate?

The creative process is designed to be easily accessible: no prior experience is necessary, and materials will be provided. Through discussions about motifs, colours and personal connections, embroidered visual stories will be created that recount moments of solidarity and support.

The event is part of the Neustadt Art Festival. This non-commercial art and culture festival is celebrating its 14th edition this year. From 25 to 27 September 2026, there will be exhibitions, concerts, readings, performances and much more – all in one weekend in Dresden’s Neustadt district – organised independently by representatives of all kinds of artistic genres and held together at a colourful bunch of venues.

The project is funded by Ostsächsische Sparkasse Dresden and the State Ministry for Social Affairs and Social Cohesion. This initiative is co-funded by taxpayers’ money on the basis of the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament as part of the state programme Integrative Maßnahmen.