Apply now for the 2027 project weeks: School classes decorate distribution cabinets 

Distribution cabinet styling: Half of the approximately 18,000 distribution cabinets have already been decorated, featuring tigers, dolphins and similar designs 

10.08.2026

Boxy, grey and standing unassumingly by the side of the road: this is the standard appearance of Stromnetz Berlin's roughly 18,000 distribution cabinets and 10,000 transformer stations. They supply electricity to the people of Berlin. For more than 15 years, however, pupils in the capital city have been decorating around 500 of the cabinets each year with graffiti they have designed themselves during so-called project weeks. There are still a few places available for 2027, and schools can apply to Stromnetz Berlin from now until 30 September 2026. This campaign is aimed at pupils from Year 5 onwards. 

During a one-week project week, each class creates designs for 15 distribution cabinets in their neighbourhood. First of all, the kids devise their own motifs. Then, under the guidance of street artists and teachers, stencils are created. Finally, the pupils apply their motifs to the cabinets. Stromnetz Berlin foots the bill for these distribution cabinet styling project weeks. 

Please e-mail in your applications by 30 September 2026, stating your school, school year and a nominated person with their contact details to: [email protected].

Tom Rütting, Head of Policy & Communication at Stromnetz Berlin, says: “Berlin is the capital of the creative community, and fostering this creativity right from school age has been a cause close to our hearts for many years. The distribution cabinet project has now even inspired others to follow suit throughout Germany. We're particularly pleased about that. The campaign also has another important and welcome side effect, as it helps us protect our facilities against vandalism. After all, visually attractive cabinets are demonstrably less likely to be sprayed over.”

Benjamin Graf-Kubel is project manager at Reinickendorfer meredo e.V., which organises the project weeks on behalf of Stromnetz Berlin. He reports: “Animal motifs have proven especially popular with pupils over the years. Sport and nature also feature time after time in these designs. We also consider it important to teach these school pupils about topics such as copyright, meaning that they can’t just use their favourite comic book hero or football club logo. This project gives them the opportunity to colourfully design the neighbourhood they live in with their own motifs.”

The most attractive distribution cabinets and transformer stations are selected annually by a jury, across several categories. Every year, all interested parties can vote for the Audience Award via social media and online. The prizes are awarded in the presence of the young artists at a major event.

You can find more information on distribution cabinet styling on this website.