international woodsculpture symposium

In 2026, Uwe Wolff’s Foundation and the Municipality of Sønderborg will arrange the symposium together for the 14th time. Throughout an outstanding collaboration, a well-known and well-reputed symposium has been established over time.

The theme for 2026 is our region’s local history of the brickmaking industry. The local museum Cathrinesminde Brikwork tells the story of the brickmaking industry that shaped the area around Flensburg Fjord for more than 200 years.

The museum is built around the old production facilities, including the clay pit, mixing and molding machines, drying sheds, ring kiln, and more. The exhibition traces the history of bricks through the ages. The old workers’ houses can be visited. There is also a historical workshop where school classes can learn about brick production. In 2007, Cathrinesminde Brickworks was designated a national industrial heritage site.

The large industrial complex is the last preserved ring-kiln brickworks in Southern Jutland. The ring kiln (oven) is 35 meters long. In addition, there are long drying sheds and a complete, fully functional set of machinery for producing all types of bricks. Behind the brickworks lie two large clay pits, where the raw material was extracted.

With the theme WoodSculpture wants to embrace and enhance the understanding for this unique local history.