Berlin Stories | 05 - 19 December

Massive budget cuts endanger Berlin's cultural landscape

After the Berliner Senate announced its budget plan for the upcoming year, many cultural institutions across the city are at risk. Organisations and community spaces for and by marginalised people will be affected the most with 130€ million to be deducted from the cultural and diversity budget in 2025. The government has cancelled the IMPACT Diversity Funding, a vital support for Deaf and disabled artists, as well as The Foundation for Cultural Education and Advice. Also announced is the closure of the Diversity Arts Culture office.

In Berlin, many small venues and cultural institutions depend, at least in part, on governmental subsidies. Now, they fight for their survival. Among those affected are Sinema Transtopia, Theater Thikwa, queer youth network Lambda, and Berliner Ensemble. Sinema Transtopia, an organisation who face losing 100% of their funding budget and are now at risk of bankruptcy, have started an open letter to rally support against the cuts.

More than 450 creative and cultural institutes have joined the #BerlinIstKultur campaign, with protests planned against the state’s CDU-mayor, Kai Wegner, and his conservative austerity politics. 

These drastic cuts will mean the further exclusion of marginalised people from cultural spaces in Berlin. It is unacceptable.

Soli Market at Görlitzer Park

Kreuzberg Solidarität and Gangway are hosting a Soli Winter Market. Taking place at Görlitzer Park, 30 initiatives, neighbours and housing projects will participate with self-made goods, food and activities. The sales are donation-based with all proceeds going toward supporting Infinity Team Gaza, a community organisation providing urgent care on the ground. Come by on Saturday 14 December from 14-22:00 and Sunday 15 December from 12-17.00.

Move 78 Concert

Move 78 are performing live at Privatclub Berlin on 8 December. Headed up by Refuge Worldwide resident AVER, the band are well loved for their fusion of hip-hop, jazz and electronica. This concert will mark their only headlining show in Berlin this year and they have promised to showcase new material. The event starts at 19:00.

Free My People Fundraiser

FREE MY PEOPLE is a fundraising event organised by the Berliner creative agencies Ummunity, Sepia, and Solo Efectivo, in solidarity with Sudan, Congo, Palestine, Kurdistan, Tamil Eelam, the Rohingya, and others resisting oppression and violence worldwide. On 8 December, at By Fenna Lang, you can drop by from 12-21:00 for Henna art, T-shirts, photo exhibits, DJ sets and live acts. The lineup includes Khadija, yungfya and Xanax Attax. All proceeds will be donated to local organisations supporting the causes.

Bizaar Closing Event

“The Voice” - the final day of three-part Bizaar Event Series – is taking place on 7 December. The event centers the South Asian queer community and showcases several performers across disciplines. The lineup includes rapper Enana, performer and founder Rehmat Zafar, comedian Anshita Koul, and DJ Jivi1mebaby. Come by Subkontinent Berlin in Neukölln on Saturday from 13:30.

Offline KüFa

Offline Community Space is organising a KüFa on 5 December from 19-22:00. The monthly gathering and solidarity kitchen helps to sustain the project, which is oriented toward activism and technology in Neukölln. At the KüFa, several collectives using the space will present their current work, hoping to inspire an exchange of ideas.

Protests in solidarity with Kurdistan and against police brutality

Polizei Im Nacken, an initiative to ban the violent practice of knee-on-neck arrests by the police, are organising a demo. Join in the protest outside the Landesgericht building to support the cause on 5 December from 10:00.

Additionally, on 7 December at 17:00, a protest will take place at Oranienplatz in solidarity with the Kurdish people in Rojava, who are once again under attack by Turkey and opposition militia forces pushing them out of their homes during the ongoing uprising in Syria.