Art room center: renewal of the municipal gallery in Berlin Mitte!

Art room center: renewal of the municipal gallery in Berlin Mitte!

Auguststraße, Berlin, Deutschland - The artistic direction of the art space in Mitte has taken a new direction with Agnieszka Roguski and Natalie Keppler since 2024. The municipal gallery, which was known as a white elephant gallery up to this point, can look back on a long history. Founded in 1987 in East Berlin for young artists, today it represents one of 37 municipal galleries in Berlin and offers free offers for the public. The new name of the art space in the middle represents a reorientation and self -questioning, which appears particularly necessary in times of changed freedom in the art world. taz reports of the beginnings when the gallery was founded in a corner pub that served as a meeting point for artists.

In the course of their renewal, Roguski and Keppler have discovered archive material, including moving boxes and folders, which among other things reflect the history of the old name. The white porcelain elephants from the shop window of the pub have become a symbol for the artists who came together here. Despite its tradition, the gallery sees itself against challenges that arise from the current cuts in the promotions of fees for artists. These measures of the Senate Culture Administration have led to the funds for exhibition allowances suspended, which significantly impaired working in the middle of the art. Roguski emphasizes that the value of artistic work and ethical standards are of great importance for them.

programs and exhibitions

The art space in the middle plans an open program that is supposed to counteract exclusivity in art. One of the recent events includes the exhibition "Diffraction - Transforming", which can be seen from September 13, 2024 to February 9, 2025 and presents artists such as Jesse Darling and Katrin Steiger. On February 8, 2025, a talk will also take place under the title "Diffractions - Collecting & Un/Learning" with Clare Molloy and Susanne Sachsse. Other events, such as guided tours and workshops, offer the opportunity to actively shape artistic work in the middle of the art. Kunstraummitte informs about numerous upcoming appointments.

The gallery is not only a place for the presentation of art, but also a space for dialogue and knowledge exchange, such as the planned events "open-air screening" and various workshops illustrate. For example, on August 29, 2024, a workshop entitled "The white elephants have never existed" will be offered, which deals with the history of the gallery. The aim is to bring communities together and promote the exchange.

political and financial challenges

Despite the creative ambitions, the municipal galleries, including the middle of the middle of the middle of the middle, face political and financial uncertainties. The cuts in the fee have created a situation in which fixed fee rates are no longer mandatory and the financing of payments for artists remains unclear. In order to meet these challenges, the galleries have joined together to organize and influence themselves politically. These steps are important to secure the cultural landscape of Berlin in the long term. KG Berlin provides information about all 37 municipal galleries and promotes the networking of the artistic community.

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OrtAuguststraße, Berlin, Deutschland
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