SHORT PORTRAITSPREAD MORE BEAUTY by GRAND BEAUTY, Interventionsbüro e.V.
SPREAD MORE BEAUTY is a radically diverse salon where beauty and care experts both with and without an immigration background, autodidacts, and professionals work together. Here, beauty is viewed as a gesture of solidarity, a concept for leading a life that is good and free from domination. Leipzig’s Grünau district is home to people of diverse social and cultural backgrounds. Here, SPREAD MORE BEAUTY is creating a space where beauty can, in all of its forms, connect across the boundaries of language and culture. Regular beauty sessions, special events, and workshops create the framework for encounters with oneself and with others. In this shielded atmosphere, a space is found for the realization that supposed flaws mean less than having the certainty you are completely alright just the way you are.
“What a great and innovative project! SPREAD MORE BEAUTY is exploring what it is that constitutes beauty in a culture, and how it is written into that culture’s memory. In doing so, this transcultural beauty salon is opening up space for themes reaching far beyond the practices of beauty. At the heart of this project lies interaction based on solidarity, love, and equality. That is where the great potential of the project manifests itself, enabling people to recognize the worth found within themselves and others.”, says the jury.
3 new questions to… Frauke Frech, founder and artistic direction GRAND BEAUTY
We are happy that we were able to open our SPREAD MORE BEAUTY salon in Leipzig-Grünau in 2022 with the new team, which attracts people from all over Leipzig. They enthusiastically accept our invitations around beauty, diversity and dialogue. New “beauty experts” approach us to contribute their knowledge and skills and gain new perspectives.
The award has put our work in the spotlight and brought a lot of recognition for the unconventional approach. Especially after the pandemic, this appreciation – on a non-material and financial level – was important and encouraged us to continue. Especially in Saxony, it is encouraging to know that partners and supporters are behind us.
Numerous requests for our strategies to bring people with and without migration experience into a positive exchange have shown that a GRAND BEAUTY method manual is to be developed. We will develop this in 2023 in order to inspire actors nationwide and EU-wide with our practice around the beauty of diversity. The fundamental need is for long-term funding perspectives for professional development and for the continuation of the salon.
3 questions to… Frauke Frech, founder and artistic direction GRAND BEAUTY
SPREAD MORE BEAUTY is designed to be a platform for diversity and dialog, inviting people to grow closer together using beauty as a theme and experience a diverse community in a new way.
A platform for diversity and dialog will emerge and grow through the visions of many minds and the power of their hands. That is why a large part of the prize money will go toward personnel costs, in order to honor this enormously important work for our society and to create perspectives for the diverse team.
We would like to respond with comments from guests who have summarized what they think would make Germany more beautiful.
… that a few more people find the time for a smile out on the street.
… more openness and people who are not so uptight.
… tolerance and lived democracy!
… acceptance of diversity, contentment, love & understanding.
… that hatred against foreigners ceases.
… more investments be made again in cultural and youth programs.