[spectre] Fwd: Künstlerhaus Bethanien , Moving and Relaunch June 2010

[Andreas Broeckmann]

From: Christina Sickert <sickert at bethanien.de>
Subject: Künstlerhaus Bethanien: Umzug und Relaunch Juni
   2010 / Moving and Relaunch June 2010
Date: Wed, 25 Nov 2009 12:29:53 +0100


künstlerhaus bethanien gmbh
PRESS RELEASE
24.11.2009

Künstlerhaus Bethanien at Kottbusser Straße 10 as from June 2010

Dear colleagues, partners and friends of Künstlerhaus Bethanien,

Künstlerhaus Bethanien GmbH and Nicolas Berggruen 
Holdings GmbH are pleased to announce that
after 35 good, eventful years in the Bethanien 
building on Mariannenplatz in Kreuzberg, 
Künstlerhaus
Bethanien will be continuing its studio and 
exhibition programme with fresh dynamism in new, 
extended
premises in the commercial property Kottbusser 
Straße 10/ Kohlfurter Str. 41/43 in Kreuzberg
as f rom June 2010. The corresponding lease 
contract has been concluded with Nicolas Berg g 
ru e n
Holdings GmbH. The company acquired the 
predominantly vacant commercial building with an
overall floor space of 10,000 m2 from a property 
fund in 2008, the intention being to initiate a 
commercial
centre from which the legendary Kreuzberg mix of 
creative culture, internationality and 
experimental
innovation can diffuse its own special energy.

The occupation of the south wing of Bethanien on 
Mariannenplatz by left-wing squatters in 2005, 
their
toleration by the building's owner - the district 
office Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg -, and the 
subsequent
development of the building into a socio-cultural 
neighbourhood centre was making perspectives for
Ku.nstlerhaus Bethanien GmbH's internationally 
oriented work increasingly difficult. Nicolas 
Berggruen
Holdings made a persuasive offer: an opportunity 
to start again - quasi as the key, inspiring
tenant - in the context of an artistic concept 
for the use of a location with good public 
transport access
between Kottbusser Tor and Fraenkelufer.
The new location of the Ku.nstlerhaus at 
Kottbusser Straße 10 will mean considerably 
improved conditions
for working and presentation, so helping to 
generate fresh dynamism for our longstanding,
successful work of promoting excellence in the 
field of young, contemporary art and also 
sharpening
Ku.nstlerhaus Bethanien's profile as an 
internationally acknowledged experimental 
laboratory and
think tank.
After the completion of conversion measures for 
Ku.nstlerhaus Bethanien, visitors will encounter 
enhanced
offers with larger, more flexible areas for 
events and exhibitions, an increase in the number 
of
artists' studios and thus an expansion of the 
International Studio Programme, a much improved
workshop situation, large-area lifts, and an 
entrance area that will create its own impact on 
public
space at Kottbusser Straße 10. The gallery 
exhibition area, now extended to 730 m2, will be 
directly
accessible from here. Flexible ground plans for 
the artists' studios ranging from 45 to 90 m2 
will enable
us to invite 25 artists each year in future. An 
additional meeting place is sure to enliven 
groupdynamics
among visitors and guests.
The owner of around 60 properties in Berlin and 
Potsdam including Café Moskau and the 
Sarotticourtyards
on Mehringdamm, Berggruen Holdings intends the 
five-storey building complex to be used 
predominantly by the cultural industry, with a 
mix including all fields of communications and
creative business, as well as related handicrafts and other skilled trades.
The aesthetic quality of the architecture on the 
quietly-situated street Kohlfurter Straße, which 
extends
as far as Kottbusser Straße, and its 
well-preserved structural condition presents an 
ideal basis for this
project. Careful restoration retaining the 
buildings' historical charm, equipping with 
modern technology,
and the introduction of individual contemporary 
architectural accents have created an ambience
with a forward-looking, flexible layout of space 
that is highly suited to the needs of creative 
industries.
As from the second quarter of 2010, additional 
studio, office and commercial areas will be 
available for
lease on the upper floors (from 250 m2) as well 
as space for galleries and/or shops on the ground 
floor.
Since 2005, preparations for Ku.nstlerhaus 
Bethanien's move have been carefully attended and 
actively
supported by the Senate Office for Cultural 
Affairs and the shareholders of Ku.nstlerhaus 
Bethanien
GmbH, the Academy of the Arts in Berlin, the 
German Academic Exchange Service - and partners at
home and abroad. Adonation from the foundation 
Deutsche Klassenlotterie made conversion and
development measures possible. Special thanks are due to all our supporters.
Such new perspectives must be celebrated in 
suitable style: the plan is to mark the re-launch 
of the
Ku.nstlerhaus in the context of a major 
celebratory event on Friday, 11th June 2010, 
which will be attended
by representatives of the Senate Office and 
Nicolas Berggruen and include a major exhibition
opening with party to follow.
Naturally, we will gladly inform you about the 
details of our removal plans and the re-launch 
celebrations.
We sincerely hope that we can rely on your 
continued interest in Ku.nstlerhaus Bethanien and 
its work
during the coming, exciting months of our move 
and the new beginning - and that we have been able
to trigger your interest in the further development of the commercial centre.
Best regards
Ku.nstlerhaus Bethanien GmbH
Nicolas Berggruen Holdings GmbH

Nicolas Berggruen Holdings GmbH		Ku.nstlerhaus Bethanien GmbH
Commercial lease: Thorsten Ohmann	Press Office: Christina Sickert
Tel. 030 25 93 996 0		Tel. 030 616 90 315
to at berggruenholdings.de		presse at bethanien.de
www.berggruenholdings.de		www.bethanien.de