Karancs Project, Salgótarján LEAVE A MARK!

I participated as an artist-educator in DemoLab – Experimental City, a long-term artistic and educational program initiated by the Democratic Youth Foundation that brought together secondary school students, teachers, and contemporary artists to develop collaborative projects based on democratic learning, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving. The program explored how artistic methods can contribute to education and how young people can become active participants in shaping their own environments.

As the artist-teacher of the Salgótarján group, I worked together with students and educators to investigate the history and collective memory of the abandoned Karancs Hotel, once one of the city's most important modern landmarks. Through interviews with local residents, archival research, and creative workshops, the group reconstructed the building's forgotten stories and explored its role in the identity and memories of the city.

The two-year collaborative process resulted in a series of artworks and public presentations, including Night at the Hotel, a large-scale light installation that transformed the abandoned building into a shared cultural experience for the people of Salgótarján. The students participated in every stage of the project—from research and concept development to production, communication, and collaboration with local partners—gaining experience in how an artistic idea can become a meaningful public event.

The project demonstrated the potential of contemporary art as a tool for community building, civic engagement, and alternative forms of learning. By working as equal partners, students, teachers, and artists created a space where personal memories, local history, and creative expression could come together to generate new perspectives on the city and its future.