7 May 2026, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. | 8 May 2026, 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. | 9 May 2026, 9:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. | 10 May 2026, 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Art of Hosting & Harvesting Training

Seminars & workshops

Overview

Shaping together - a training course for anyone who wants to support collective processes in a lively, unifying and sustainable way

How do we shape our togetherness in uncertain times and live differences as a source of connection?

Leipzig, 7-10 May 2026

How can we design spaces in which diversity does not become a test of endurance, but rather a source of connection, insight and joint creation?
How can we succeed in not seeking the lowest common denominator in the midst of complex challenges, but rather the Simultaneity of many perspectives really give space?

This training is an invitation to, Connectedness and affiliation (Belonging) should not be understood as a consensus, but as a social practiceas an attitude of listening to one another without immediately passing judgement. As the ability to endure tensions without smoothing them over. And as the courage to not only allow diversity, but to live it.

Because democratic resilience arises where we learn to, to keep complex issues together, instead of rushing to provide simple answers. Where we try out new forms of coexistence in which diversity, intersectionality and questions of power can be visible – without losing the connection.

For whom?

For people who work with teams or groups - whether in organisations, movements, companies, communities, schools or neighbourhoods.

For all those who are looking for new ways of Collaboration, participation and leadership especially where things get complex, contradictory or emotional.

The training is aimed at, among others

Community leaders and organisers
People with project responsibility, decision-making or coordination roles
Executives and managers in companies who shape change processes
Actors from NGOs, initiatives and civil society organisations
Social entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs and corporate innovators
Facilitators, moderators, coaches and consultants
Artists, activists and social designers
People who initiate or accompany cross-sector dialogues
Employees in administration, municipalities and politics
Teachers, trainers and lifelong learners

When?

Thursday, 7 May
Arrival from 14:30 15:00-18:00,
Coaching 18:00-19:00 (optional)
Friday, 8 May
9:30-18:00,
Coaching 18:00-19:00 (optional)
Saturday, 9 May
9:30-18:00,
Coaching 18:00-19:00 (optional)
Sunday, 10 May
9:30-14:00

In the Freie Schule Leipzig, Alte Salzstr. 67, 04209 Leipzig

What are you taking with you?

In this Art of Hosting training, you will learn how to design collective spaces, where people can participate – fully, with their history, perspective and experience. You experience hosting as responsible, creative practice: listening, structuring, unlearning and enabling. Together we explore:

how to maintain a balance between structure and openness in team & group processes

what it means, Allowing contradictions, differences and ambivalence to coexist

how we work with proven Hosting formats such as Circle Practice, World Café or Open Space Facilitating encounters

how collective intelligence unfolds, if we do not pre-sort, but linger

how Connection can arise – even without agreement

like you yourself in complex, orientate yourself in tense situations and present

how selective participation processes A participatory culture can grow

how the experience in your own context can

Hosting attitude: sharing responsibility, cultivating presence
Art of Hosting combines practice, knowledge and experience of how change can be effectively shaped in society, organisations and companies. It is a conscious way of entering into relationships - with people, issues and situations for which there are no simple solutions. Hosting means being present, listening and not bearing responsibility alone, but sharing it. Diversity is not seen as a disruption, but as a resource for learning and creating together. This attitude forms the basis for spaces in which trust can develop - even where tensions are palpable.

Orientation & liveliness: Shaping processes without controlling them
In complex situations, people need orientation - and at the same time spaces in which something new can emerge. Art of Hosting combines both: clear process architectures and lively, open spaces. Orientation is not created through guidelines, but through conscious framing, transparent processes and shared attention to what is revealed. We work with the movement between opening up and focussing, between divergence and convergence. This makes group processes possible in which different things can stand side by side without becoming arbitrary - and in which a common direction can grow without losing diversity.

Dialogue methods & formats: Enabling encounters, deepening participation
Art of Hosting brings together a variety of tried-and-tested dialogue methods and formats that not only enable participation, but also deepen it. They create structures in which many voices can be heard - even those that are otherwise easily ignored. The focus is on how methods such as Circle Practice, World Café and Open Space serve as an invitation to pause, listen, share perspectives and create meaning together. In this way, dialogue becomes more than just an exchange - it becomes a space in which collective intelligence can be experienced. Through targeted harvesting, these insights are condensed, made visible and utilised for further action.

Experience-based learning: from experience to personal practice
The Art of Hosting training is consistently experience-based. You will host and be hosted, observe, reflect and evaluate together what is happening within you, in the group and in the process. Here, learning does not primarily come about through mediation, but through the interplay of experience, pausing and conscious reflection. A central component of this is harvesting - the conscious „harvesting“ of insights, images and results. You will learn how to make conversations productive and how to condense and visualise what has emerged in such a way that it provides orientation and can continue to have an impact in practice. The experience gained can be transferred to different contexts - to organisations, initiatives, neighbourhoods or other social spaces.

Hosting Team

Julia Hoffmann

Julia has been working for more than 15 years with teams, individuals, employees and volunteers, in organisations and in networks, to drive social change. Her focus is on participative leadership, resilience and visualisation as tools for thinking and dialogue to secure results in processes, workshops and events. A central element of Julia's work is to accompany processes and hold trainings that promote resilience and regenerative cultures, and to develop a healthier relationship between work inside, outside and in the world. She has gained professional experience as a programme manager, in multi-stakeholder management with foundations and non-profit initiatives, in political education work and in the management of a project incubator for civil society engagement in Europe. More about Julia

Mira Bangel

I support organisations, networks and institutions where collaboration is stalling or wants to develop further. In doing so, I help to build trust and develop solutions that are suitable for everyday use. As an international process facilitator and organisational developer, I have been supporting change processes, participation and knowledge exchange for over 16 years. I work with Art of Hosting (Participatory Leadership), Design Thinking, SCRUM, Theory U, Nonviolent Communication (CNVC-certified) and MBTI, among others. I have been supporting the Centre for Organisational Transformation of the European Commission in the development of training and strategies for change management, knowledge management and collaboration. I facilitate international dialogues, communities of practice and decision-making processes with the aim of strengthening a culture of cooperation and shared learning. More about Mira

Sabine Gressel-Soeder

Sabine is a strategically thinking flow architect and lifelong learner. She is curious about people, their stories and the unique strengths they bring to the table. She continuously explores how people come together, connect and develop new and innovative approaches with each other. The growing complexity of our world's challenges calls for new solutions. We find these in jointly developed approaches, in co-creations. This means finding a way to lead together, with a shared, value-orientated approach to co-creation. More about Sabine

Silas Lusias

“If you like to run fast, run alone, but if you like to run far, run with others” - is an African phrase that has shaped me and led me to my background of living in community. My mission is to bring the „WE“ into our everyday lives and interactions. Collective leadership is what I strive for. My name is Silas Lusias and I am an Art of Hosting host, meditator and permaculture practitioner. My experience enriches me with a true appreciation for diversity and an ability to hold highly reflective spaces for groups. I played a key role from the founding of the Kufunda Learning Village in 2002 until 2011. The Kufunda Learning Village (www.kufunda.org) is a learning centre that helps villagers build self-reliance at various levels. To empower communities to survive the challenging socio-economic conditions in Zimbabwe, Kufunda demonstrates how to adopt environmentally friendly and economically sustainable practices so that each community can look after itself and not be dependent on the failing system and have its basic needs for food, health and education met. At the moment I live in Bavaria.

Christa Cocciole

At the intersection of embodiment, activism and social innovation, I design participatory processes that involve body, mind and community in equal measure. This gives rise to lively, creative and inclusive cultures of collaboration in which people learn from each other, strengthen each other and shape effective change together. I am a systemic therapist, trauma therapist and facilitator and accompany individuals, teams and organisations in change processes. I combine communication skills, compassion and resilience methods to create spaces in which trust can grow and people can develop their inner strength. More about Christa

Nicola Kriesel

For over three decades, I have been weaving my knowledge as a lawyer, mediator and organisational developer into a tapestry that gives teams and individuals support. I see myself as a companion on the path to synergetic collaboration - a space in which the potential of each individual can blossom like a flower.

For me, trust and responsibility are not just concepts, but the foundation on which diversity and commitment grow. My heart beats especially for educational institutions: Here, I am passionate about the intertwining of inclusion, democracy and digital change. I not only look at the structure, but also listen to the rhythm of the culture in order to jointly find evolutionary forms in which strategy and humanity resonate in harmony.

More about Nicola

Local Host

Hannah Hummel

Deep, warm, playful - that's how the feedback on my work can be summarised. Working with groups fulfils me with meaning. I discovered this passion at the age of 14 and I've been learning ever since. I love learning so much. I have been working at independent alternative schools since 2010 and was able to work as a board member of the federal association (BFAS e.V.) for 9 years. Since then, I have been interested in the question: Why are teams the way they are? The exploration of patterns and dynamics & the development of healthy, appreciative work inspire me. I go on a quest with you and shine an empathic torch to track down causes and sources of resilience. More about Hannah

Diversity, accessibility & coaching

Diversity, accessibility & well-being

All people are welcome to attend this event - regardless of gender, sexual orientation, origin, religion, age, disability or social background. It is important to us that all participants feel welcome in their diversity and find the safest possible framework for dialogue, learning and participation.

The venue is barrier-free (step-free access, barrier-free toilet). Participants can specify their pronouns in advance or on site; these will be respected.

During training, we pay attention to different needs in terms of breaks, retreat and well-being. If you have any questions about this or other aspects of accessibility or individual needs, please get in touch with us in advance - we will try to find suitable solutions together.

Coaching

Following the training, we offer one-hour coaching sessions on the evenings of Thursday, Friday and Saturday (see times), in which participants who wish to do so are supported in implementing hosting methods themselves the following day - such as open space, circle practice or other formats from the training.

The coaching sessions take place in the group and are practice-orientated: The focus is on concrete preparation, clarification of roles, concerns and next steps. This allows you to immediately apply and consolidate what you have learnt.

Places for the methods on the following day are limited. Anyone who wants to can take part in the coaching itself - even as an observer. This enables additional learning by following, thinking and reflecting together.

expenses

We offer participation in the Art of Hosting & Harvesting training at a graduated participation fee:

Standard“ category
- Early Bird (until 27 February 2026): € 680
- Regular price: 820 €
- Group price (from 3 persons): 700 € per person

Category “Supporter:in & Corporate”
- Early Bird (until 27 February 2026): € 920
- Regular price: € 1,200
- Group price (from 3 persons): 870 € per person

Reduced contribution“ category”
Price 500 €
A limited number of 10 places are available for the reduced fee.

By choosing your category, you are helping to make the training accessible to people from different contexts.

If you would very much like to take part and the contributions mentioned are currently not possible for you, please get in touch via this form with us. We will endeavour to find a solution within the scope of our possibilities.

Included in the participation fee

Participation in all training days including evening sessions (“coaching”)
Support from an experienced, multidisciplinary hosting team
Manual, documentation and „harvest“ of the joint work

The service is exempt from VAT pursuant to Section 4 No. 22 a).

Please select the price that suits you:

Your contribution (€)

Clear

The total catering costs for the event are €70 (for coffee, tea, refreshments during breaks and vegan lunch on Friday, Saturday and Sunday). These must be booked when registering.

After your registration, we will contact you and ask you to fill out a form about your motivation, concerns and needs (accessibility, food intolerances, etc.).

Any questions?

Then write to us

send an email