Part of the Bethanien building is occupied by squatters. Both they and some politicians are using this exceptional situation ingeniously in order to exploit fine art for local political aims. In this context, the Berlin duo of artists Dellbrügge & de Moll have introduced fiction into the debate and taken a look around in search of a new location for the Künstlerhaus. They chop up Bethanien neatly, extracting the Künstlerhaus’ programme and transplanting it into an amusement park. In their vision, Bethanien moves to the former Spreepark in Plänterwald, Treptow. In this way, the project examines art’s utopian potential between gentrification and claims to participation. What role do artists play on the city stage? Is art an enclave within urban space?

With Andreas Schlaegel (dr) Anja Brietzke, Peter Farkas, Pia Fuchs (German ID of Patricia Reed), Nikolaus Schneider (mic)

Accompanying program:

11. Mai, 20h Should we stay or should we go? Anja Barenthin, Dipl.-Ing. Architektur (FH) and Janine Becker, Dipl.-Ing. Architektur (FH), “Kunstplateau 36”; Dellbrügge & de Moll, artists: “New Harmony” – Guests: Modersohn & Freiesleben, architects; Torben Schomaker, architect and craftsman

16. Mai, 20h Branding the Bethanien – Karen van den Berg, Prof. für Kulturmanagement und inszenatorische Praxis an der Zeppelin University, “Branding und Flächenbrand” Stefan Iglhaut, curator and cultural manager, “Branding – für welches Produkt und in welchem Markt?” – Guests: Reinhard Binder, brand consultant, Visions 2 Form GmbH; Christine Nippe, cultural scientist and art historian; Annette Spohn, art historian

17. Mai, 20h In Quest of the Perfect Location (in English) – Benjamin Foerster-Baldenius, performing architect, raumlabor_berlin, “Der spezifische Raum” – Guests: Markus Bader, architect, raumlabor_berlin; Michael Baers, artist; Hadley & Max-well, artist; Rodney LaTourelle, artist, architect and writer; Lise Nellemann, artist and curator, Sparwasser HQ; Åsa Sonjasdotter, artist

18. Mai, 20h Squat the World – Marc Ries, cultural scientist and media theoretician, “Von Utopien, Inseln und anderen Beziehungen”, Bastian Lange, Dipl.-Geograph, “Stadt – Raum – Lokalismus: Raumaneignungen von Culturepreneurs” in Berlin
Guest: Stefan Münker, media scientist