INSPIRED BY GOOD TIMES
why?
oh why?
how did we get here
A while ago, we (Irina and James) and started dreaming about finding an old abandoned place to bring back to life—something with history and character. After months of searching, we stumbled across an old pottery factory in an auction catalogue, took a chance, and somehow ended up winning it in the end of September 2023.
Now we're slowly turning it into Joylery: an art residency, creative retreat, and community space where people can restore a beautiful old factory, learn practical skills, make art, share meals, gather around campfires, and enjoy the forests, clear lakes, and star-filled skies of rural Brandenburg—a peaceful escape just a couple of hours from Berlin, Leipzig, and Dresden.
It's a huge adventure, and we're figuring it out as we go. If you'd like to get your hands dirty, meet wonderful people, or simply be part of building something meaningful, we'd love to have you join us.
history
Töpferei und Tonwarenfabrik Engelmann
This old factory has stood in Crinitz for well over a century. We know it once produced flower pots, but beyond that, much of its story has been lost.
As we restore the building, we're also trying to uncover its history. One of our dreams is to create a small museum celebrating the pottery heritage of Crinitz and the people who worked here.
The truth is, apart from the single photograph you see here, we have almost nothing.
If you or your family have old photos, documents, pottery, tools, or memories connected to the Engelmann factory or Crinitz's pottery history, we'd love to hear from you. Every piece helps bring this story back to life.
our vision
A New Way of Living and Creating
We imagine Joylery as a warm, open, and inspiring creative home in rural Brandenburg.
A place where artists can stay and develop their practice.
A place where volunteers can learn practical skills and help shape a real project.
A place where local residents and international visitors can meet through art, craft, food, music, and shared work.
A place where an old industrial building becomes useful, beautiful, and alive again.
We Are Looking For
We're inviting volunteers, artists, craftspeople, carpenters, architects, designers, builders, gardeners, storytellers, cultural workers, and anyone excited by the idea of transforming a forgotten factory into a creative home.
We're also looking to connect with people who are searching for a special place to host something of their own—whether that's a workshop, yoga retreat, writing retreat, cacao ceremony, team gathering, or simply a weekend of creativity and connection.
You can help with:
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Renovation and building
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Cleaning, sorting, and restoring spaces
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Gardening and outdoor work
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Ceramics, art, and workshop ideas
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Documentation, photography, and social media
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Fundraising, partnerships, and grant writing
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Events, cooking, hosting, and community care
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Or simply by bringing your curiosity, creativity, and willing hands.
You don't need to be an expert. Whether you come to volunteer, create, host something, or simply spend a few days in nature, we'd love to welcome you.
good times
