When does the book presentation take place?

On 12/10/2026 at 6:00 PM at the Education Forum Potsdam, Am Kanal 47, 14467 Potsdam.

What is the book about?

It focuses on private craft businesses in the GDR and their role in the transition from a planned economy to a market economy.

A specific ticket price could not be verified; thus, the event is indicated as having an open price.

How is the event venue connected?

The Education Forum Potsdam is centrally located and well connected by tram and bus; paid parking should be noted on the street Am Kanal.

Are there official pages of the authors?

Yes, official institutions are verifiable for both authors; social media profiles could not be conclusively confirmed.

An insightful evening about craftsmanship, change, and East German life worlds

Name: Book Presentation with Alexia Pooth and Thomas Schaarschmidt "Craft East - Work and Life Worlds between Plan and Market"
Start: 2026-12-10T18:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-12-10T19:30:00+01:00
Location: Bildungsforum Potsdam

An evening about East German work worlds, memory, and the language of craftsmanship

This book presentation leads into a topic that intertwines economic upheavals and personal life paths. Alexia Pooth and Thomas Schaarschmidt present their book Craft East - Work and Life Worlds between Plan and Market, which explores the history of small private craft businesses in the GDR and their adaptation to the market economy after 1989. The book is published by Ch. Links Verlag; the publisher names February 11, 2026, as the publication date and the retail price of 28.00 euros. ([aufbau-verlage.de](https://www.aufbau-verlage.de/ch-links-verlag/handwerk-ost/978-3-96289-250-0))

Between scarcity economy and market turnaround

The content is historically precise and rich in cultural history: Craftsmanship in the GDR meant not only repair, service, and everyday supply, but also a distinctive space for private entrepreneurship. The book asks how these businesses became bearers of hope for transformation after the upheaval of the early 1990s and why social continuities, risks, and breakthroughs remain so clearly visible, especially in the craft sector. ([aufbau-verlage.de](https://www.aufbau-verlage.de/ch-links-verlag/handwerk-ost/978-3-96289-250-0))

The authors and their perspectives

Alexia Pooth is an art and cultural historian; according to RUB, she researches art, culture, and contemporary history of the 20th to 21st centuries as well as museums, collections, exhibitions, and the relationship between art and politics. Thomas Schaarschmidt works at the Leibniz Center for Contemporary Historical Research Potsdam; his research focuses, among other things, on memory culture, memorials, and the post-history of the NS. This combination promises an author encounter with clear professional depth and analytical precision. ([aufbau-verlage.de](https://www.aufbau-verlage.de/download/17083))

The place: Education Forum Potsdam as a cultural resonance space

The event takes place at the Education Forum at Kanal 47 in Potsdam, a centrally located venue with a library, adult education center, and science floor. The connection by tram and bus is good; at the same time, the location indicates paid parking on the street Am Kanal. For a literary and science-related event, this creates precisely that reading atmosphere that relies on concentration, conversation, and intellectual exchange. ([potsdam-news.com](https://www.potsdam-news.com/locations/am-kanal-47-ChIJUc_JwcT1qEcRTZ0hK92MSlI))

What visitors can expect

A literary experience can be expected between lecture, book presentation, and historical contextualization. The evening is suitable for anyone interested in GDR everyday life, transformation history, work culture, and the subtle shifts between plan and market. The audience will experience an author encounter that is not limited to mere reading but connects cultural discourse and well-founded contemporary history. ([aufbau-verlage.de](https://www.aufbau-verlage.de/download/17083))

Conclusion: Those who want to understand East German contemporary history not only as a political but also as a social and material experience will find an insightful and stimulating evening here. The book presentation invites one to read the history of craftsmanship anew and engage live with the authors. ([aufbau-verlage.de](https://www.aufbau-verlage.de/download/17083))