Last year a group of young people at 90mil (Berlin DIY community arts space) initiated the project Community Prints, as part of an ESC Solidarity Project.

The aim of the project was to create a screen printing atelier from scratch, learn the technique of printing on textiles and paper, and teach people in the 90mil community and beyond to use this technique. So all these goals combined – creating a workshop space, learning and teaching a skill to our peers, and creating community.

Many people around the 90mil community are of a less privileged background or facing discrimination (often of immigrant background, LGBTQ+ and/or BIPOC people, as well as people with financial and learning barriers).

It was very meaningful to make the screen printing technique and atelier available to a wider group of people and lower the barrier of participation – making free workshops.

It was a great opportunity to have the ESC grant to buy all the printing equipment and also host community gatherings. We hugely thank 90mil for allowing us to use the container at the back of the main building.

In the course of the project we have taught over 25 people how to make screens and print. People print designs for their musical projects (Singen3000 Choir), events (Is that all there is? Festival and Salon of Coincidence), shirts for solidarity projects like Queer Queren climbing group, and materials for fundraisers. The studio has become a community space, especially during some live events, and it continues to exist and be in communal use.

Co-funded by the European Union. European Solidarity Corps.