Spielmarkt Potsdam is a play education training event from practice for practice. From 2023 onwards, this training will consist of two event formats:
- the Spielmarkt Academy at the Social Pedagogical Training Institute Berlin-Brandenburg and
- the large-scale Spielmarkt event on Hermannswerder Island in Potsdam.
Both event formats serve the goal of taking play seriously and using it in all areas of pedagogy as an element of education and personality development.
They will be held alternately every two years from 2023, both with the same main theme.
The two-day major event Spielmarkt consists of three areas which, interwoven, offer a colourful programme on Hermannswerder Island. In addition to the specialist area with over 100 workshops, lectures, podiums and project presentations, there is an exhibitor area where game inventors, publishers, institutions and associations offer games, literature and materials for educational practice to try out and buy. The third area will be play islands and activities on the central play meadow and in other parts of the outdoor area. A cultural programme with shows, exhibitions and performances rounds off the colourful programme. Participation is possible for a small fee without pre-registration and without a limited number of participants.
The new format Spielmarkt-Academy, on the other hand, is a specialist event with a limited number of participants and a stronger focus on professionalism. In the broadest sense, “academy” means a place for professional exchange and reflection, where academic discourse is more strongly included than is possible at the large-scale event. During the one and a half days there will be lectures, impulses, workshops, discussion rounds, expert panels and other events on the respective focal topic.
Participation is only possible with pre-registration for the entire duration of the event and payment of a conference fee. Accommodation will be provided and can be booked by participants. The number of participants is limited to about 100 people from educational practice and academic research. In contrast to the large event, group registrations are not possible.
The organiser of the play market is the Protestant Youth in the Protestant Church in Central Germany (EKM), supported by the Protestant Church Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia (EKBO), the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saxony, the Evangelical Church of Anhalt, the Hoffbauer Foundation Potsdam, the Stephanus Foundation Berlin and the Social Pedagogical Training Institute Berlin-Brandenburg (SFBB).
In addition, a large number of other partners are involved.
