The exhibition “Value of a place” at Kulturhaus Baumschulenweg (22.05.-31.07.2025) explores how a location gains significance through human energy and creative work. It showcases works by artists from Treptow-Ateliers e.V., which was founded in 2012. In late 2018, they lost their original studio due to demolition plans and had to search for a new, affordable location. Although they found a new home in a former factory in 2023, it is more expensive and uncertain, posing challenges for many members. The exhibition intertwines the group's past and present, highlighting their creative spirit and ongoing struggle to preserve their workplace.

Treptow-Ateliers at its END 26 artists of the Treptow Ateliers must vacate their temporary studios at Wilhelminenhofstraße 83-85 on January 15, 2023, which could signify the end of another Berlin artists' house. This occurs despite the artists having submitted a concept two and a half years ago, supported by all factions, to self-renovate a nearby vocational school (Wilhelminenhofstraße 90a) that has been vacant for 13 years, which would have been financed by a non-profit bank. Cultural Senator Dr. Klaus Lederer rejected the plan, even though the coalition agreement prioritizes securing artistic spaces. Given the loss of an average of 350 affordable studios annually in Berlin, the situation for the artists is precarious.

On May 7, 2022, a happening took place in front of the vacant building Wilhelminenhofstraße 90a. The discussion focused on the necessity of preserving neighborhood meeting points, commercial units, and art production sites in the district. The years of vacancy and the Senate Department for Culture and Europe's rejection of a self-financed usage concept without discussion caused great indignation. Participants demand transparent and solution-oriented strategies to preserve artist communities rooted in the neighborhood. A Mail-Art campaign for Wilhelminenhofstraße 90a will continue, and participation is welcome.

Art is fun. Art excites, art dreams and smacks. Art connects and rubs. It chews and spits, criticizes and ensnares. It is beautiful and joyful, combining tragedy and comedy. Art begins in spaces. When the space is gone, the art is gone. We, the artist community Treptow-Ateliers e.V., have been striving since 2018 to achieve long-term security for our workplaces and to prevent our displacement. Our previous location in Mörikestraße, which we had to leave in the summer of 2020, has been a yawning, empty space for over a year. Our current location, the Rathenau-Hallen on Wilhelminenhofstraße, is a only temporary solution until construction begins. Wilhelminenhofstraße 90a, a former upper-secondary school, has been empty for more than 15 years. The building belongs to the state of Berlin. More than two years ago, we approached the state of Berlin with a self-financed renovation and utilization plan. Despite many supporters from the district and the state of Berlin, we are still denied access and use. We cordially invite you to an art happening in front of Wilhelminenhofstraße 90a. We would like to playfully re-imagine the building together with you. There will be an open-air exhibition and actions. We will serve cake and drinks. Together we will rub, smack, develop visions and excite with art.

As part of "KUNST MACHT SPASS," artist Matteo Peterlini invites participants to an open call and Mail Art workshop at Treptow-Ateliers. On April 30th, 2022, at 4 pm, attendees will learn how Mail Art serves as a historical, decentralized system for directly expressing thoughts. They will create artworks on postcards with messages against hate and racism, which will be sent to Berlin institutions. For those missing the workshop, postcards with instructions can be picked up daily from April 30th to May 6th, between 5 pm and 6 pm. The aim is to foster creative communication and civic engagement.

The Treptow-Ateliers e.V. has been fighting displacement from Berlin for three years due to a lack of affordable studio spaces. Their self-financed concept to convert a state-owned property at Wilhelminenhofstraße 90a, vacant for 15 years, into 25 affordable studios was rejected by Senator Lederer, citing the principle of equality, despite the absence of Senate alternatives. The artists sharply criticize this stance, as the city simultaneously provides the Tempelhof Airport Hangar rent-free to a financially strong Bonn-based foundation. They demand the provision of the Wilhelminenhofstraße property to protect local artists and ensure transparent and swift utilization of vacant state-owned properties.

The Treptow Ateliers are leaving their studio house in Mörikestraße at the end of June after seven and a half years with a heavy heart. After months of searching, an alternative accommodation was found at the last minute in the Rathenau-Hallen in Schöneweide. However, this temporary solution is only secured for a maximum of one and a half years. Therefore, the ateliers will continue to search for a long-term location. Despite the limited term, the relief and joy about the new premises prevail, releasing a lot of shared energy.

The artists of the Treptow Ateliers must vacate their current building in Berlin-Baumschulenweg and are seeking a permanent new location. Their focus is on a vacant school building at Wilhelminenhofstraße 90a, even though Senator Lederer's Senate Cultural Administration remains resistant. To prove the seriousness and feasibility of their project, which enjoys broad support from politics and culture, members have created a feasibility study. This study shows that the Wilhelminenhofstraße 90a site is viable and that the project can be managed. The full study is available as a PDF.

The delegation from Treptow Ateliers, comprised of outstanding artists, visited the Berlinale hoping to meet Helen Mirren and draw attention to their difficult situation. However, Mirren preferred to dedicate her attention to ordinary fans, which the Ateliers considered her mistake and a missed opportunity. Although this “faux pas” only partially delivered the desired media attention, the artists still had a lot of fun. Undistributed flyers are now available online to further highlight their situation.

On February 19, the Tree of Heaven in front of the Treptow atelier house was cut down at the instruction of Peter Ottmann. This measure serves as preparation for the demolition of the house, which is scheduled to take place in June. The residents find it macabre that Mr. Ottmann uses a picture of this very tree on the website to advertise his construction project. They express their sadness over the loss of their "old friend" and are processing their grief with a song.

The Professional Association of Visual Artists Berlin (bbk berlin) supports the Treptow Ateliers' efforts to secure the vacant school at Wilhelminenhofstraße 90a in Oberschöneweide as a long-term studio house. In an open letter, bbk praises the artist collective's constructive endeavors and highlights the severe shortage of studios in Berlin, which the existing Senate studio program does not adequately address. The bbk views this as a forward-looking example of how state-owned properties can be more quickly activated for artistic infrastructure. In the future, studios are to be allocated transparently and verifiably to professional artists, managed by a joint committee.

The politician Gregor Gysi recently visited the Treptow Ateliers, accompanied by his constituency employee André Schubert, who is also active for Die Linke in the BVV of Treptow-Köpenick. Although Gysi initially claimed to be only superficially informed about the situation, he proved surprisingly well-versed through targeted questions. He offered his support to the ateliers, promising to intercede on their behalf with his party colleague Klaus Lederer in the Senate Culture Administration, as well as with the landlord Peter Ottmann. This signals a clear commitment to the concerns of the artists in the ateliers.

The owner of the atelier house in Treptow, Peter Ottmann, recently gave an interview to the Berliner Zeitung. The author of the current text prefers not to comment on the content for now, leaving it up to readers to form their own opinions. However, it is clearly emphasized that Mr. Ottmann is definitively wrong on a particular point. A more detailed statement or press release regarding this matter will follow shortly.

The artists of Treptow Ateliers refute owner Peter Ottmann's claim that a solution exists for them in a drama school, as this building is already allocated elsewhere. Instead, they propose using a former school building at Wilhelminenhofstraße 90a, which has been vacant for eleven years. Although informed that this property is earmarked for the Berlin Studio Program, the artists criticize its limited effectiveness. They present a concept with the non-profit Triodos-Bank, which would finance the renovation, resulting in zero costs for the state while even creating studios for the official program. This offers a pragmatic and cost-effective solution to the lack of affordable workspaces.

The magazine "Forum" features the Treptow Ateliers on Mörikestraße in its current issue as an exemplary report on Berlin's studio situation. The article, which is also available online, highlights the Treptow Ateliers as an important example. Furthermore, the issue includes an interview with Berlin's studio commissioner, Martin Schwegmann, where the studio building is also discussed. This interview is also accessible online, facilitating access to the information.

The Treptow Ateliers invite visitors to their Open Studios on September 7th and 8th at Mörikestraße. This might be the last chance to visit the studios at this location, as they face eviction and no new space has yet been found. The event also serves as an urgent appeal to the Senate Department for Culture and Europe to actively secure a new location for the artists. The Ateliers have already submitted proposals for repurposing vacant buildings using their own resources. Visitors are warmly invited to experience the works of numerous artists and support the initiative.

On July 7, a Spanish-language video reportage by AFP TV about the Treptow Ateliers in Mörikestraße was adopted by four different Spanish-speaking news portals. These platforms, including Gestión, msn, dailymotion, and att.net, disseminated the report. The reportage highlights the activities of the Treptow Ateliers, reaching a broad audience through these channels.

he audio recordings of the symposium "Spaces, Arts, Struggles, Berlin (Counter)Narratives of Urban Development," which took place on May 17, 2019, at the Treptow Ateliers, are now available on Soundcloud. Interested parties can listen to the speeches from the event without prior registration. This symposium addressed critical perspectives on Berlin's urban development through art and social struggles. The publication allows retrospective access to the important discussions and impulses of the event. https://soundcloud.com/treptow-ateliers/sets/raeume-kuenste-kaempfe-treptow

The Treptow Ateliers initiative received an offer from owner Peter Ottmann for a rental termination agreement. This would confirm the existing termination by September 30, 2019, but grant an eviction period until March 31, 2020. During these six months, tenants would have to pay a usage fee, but would lose important tenant rights, such as claims for repairs or rent reductions for defects. The offer would ensure a definitive departure of the ateliers by March 31, 2020, with no further extension possibilities. The initiative has not accepted the offer after legal review and is instead demanding an extension of the existing rental agreements until a new location is found.

Governing Mayor Michael Müller received representatives of the Treptow Ateliers, Raik Hölzel and Sebastian Körbs, and pledged comprehensive support. Müller promised to intervene with landlord Peter Ottmann to postpone the construction project until a ready-to-move-in alternative location for the artists is found. He also offered to assist in finding a municipal property on Wilhelminenhofstraße. Following his advice, the artists decided to establish an association to be legally capable of action. Now, it is up to Ottmann to state compelling reasons against a deferring solution.

The artists of the Tretow Ateliers in Mörikestraße must vacate their premises by the end of September. Building owner Peter Ottmann presented plans for a mixed-use development with a daycare, new studios, and family apartments, but flatly rejected artists' demands for more time to find alternative quarters. He accused the artists and the studio representative, Dr. Martin Schwegmann, of insufficient commitment, while Schwegmann pointed to a lack of affordable alternatives. The inconclusive meeting ended in mutual accusations, though Ottmann ultimately hinted at possibly getting personally involved in the search.

The symposium "RÄUME, KÜNSTE, KÄMPFE" at the Treptow Ateliers on May 17th gathered urban researchers and cultural representatives to discuss urban development and cultural production. Nils Grube emphasized displacement as central to gentrification, while Henning Füller addressed the commercialization of authentic urban experiences. Friederike Landau highlighted activism within Berlin's cultural scene, and Matthias Mayer called for committed solidarity from artists to preserve their workspaces. His "Raumkampagne" aims to increase visibility for spatial problems and formulate political demands to overcome the critical situation of the Treptow Ateliers and similar venues. A subsequent exhibition concluded the event.

Artists from the threatened Mörikestraße house participated in a demonstration against rampant rent madness. Together with the "Art Block" of the Alliance of Threatened Studio Houses, they protested the loss of art spaces. The demonstration last Saturday drew approximately 20,000 attendees. In Berlin, around 300 studios are lost annually, intensifying the plight for an estimated 8,000 artists, only half of whom possess a studio. This highlights the growing threat to the city's art scene.

On March 22nd, a confidence-building discussion took place at the Treptow Ateliers in Mörikestraße. Attendees included Peter Ottmann, the house owner, Martin Schwegmann, the studio commissioner for the Berlin Senate, and Manuel Ehlers from Triodos Bank Germany. The participants expressed gratitude for the constructive and honest conversation. They expressed hope for a productive continuation of the initiated dialogue.

On May 5, 2019, representatives of the Treptow Ateliers participated in the Space Conference of the Coalition of the Free Scene, which took place at the Heinrich Böll Foundation. The conference gathered around one hundred participants from art, politics, economics, and urban planning to discuss pressing issues. Key topics included participation and structures, strategies against the displacement of art locations, and their new development. A significant outcome was the drafting of an open letter to the Governing Mayor and the Berlin Senate, which is to be delivered promptly.

Last Thursday, the Treptow Ateliers on Mörikestraße received an important visit. Rainer Hölmer, District Councillor for Building in Treptow-Köpenick, Mr. Förster from the Urban Planning Office of Treptow-Köpenick, and Martin Schwegmann, Berlin's Studio Commissioner, were present. Their objective was to advise the resident artists and explore potential future options for the studios. The hosts thanked the visitors for their committed and creative input.

On December 5th, Katalin Gennburg, a member of the Berlin House of Representatives for DIE LINKE, visited the artist's house Treptow Ateliers. She gathered information about the situation on site and offered useful tips. Afterwards, Gennburg expressed her support on Facebook, writing: "Many thanks for the insights and fists up, I'm fighting with you!" She emphasized that this production site is of great importance for Berlin, Treptow, and "Baume" and its preservation must be made clear.

Treptow Ateliers in der RBB Abendschau Treptow Ateliers 28. Juni Die Berliner Abendschau des RBB hat gestern in eine Beitrag das Ateliersterben in Berlin beleuchtet und dabei beispielhaft über unser Atelierhaus in der Mörikestraße berichtet. Lorcan O'Byrne, Sebastian Körbs und Lydia Paasche berichten über die Situation und die Probleme, die ihnen durch die Kündigung der Ateliers entstehen. Nach dem Beitrag steht Berlins Atelierbeauftragter Dr. Martin Schwegmann den Moderatoren Rede und Antwort.

Treptow Ateliers e.V.

Wilhelminenhofstr. 83-85

12459 Berlin-Schöneweide

Treptow Ateliers e.V.

Elena Karakitsou, Sebastian Körbs, Christian Krüger, Ioannis Malegiannakis, Rei Matsushima, Wayne McCauslin, Nänzi, Lorcan O`Byrne, Ornella Orlandini, Lydia Paasche, Matteo Peterlini, Christoph Schieder, Soji Shimizu, Attilio Tono, Emanuele Torti, Chisato Yasuzawa

Treptow Ateliers e.V.

Christian Krüger, Ioannis Malegiannakis, Rei Matsushima, Wayne McCauslin, Nänzi, Lorcan O`Byrne, Ornella Orlandini, Lydia Paasche, Matteo Peterlini, Christoph Schieder, Soji Shimizu, Attilio Tono, Emanuele Torti, Chisato Yasuzwa.

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Treptow
Ateliers e.V.

Elena Karakitsou, Sebastian Körbs, Christian Krüger, Ioannis Malegiannakis,
Rei Matsushima, Wayne McCauslin, Nänzi, Lorcan O`Byrne, Ornella Orlandini, Lydia Paasche, Matteo Peterlini, Christoph Schieder, Soji Shimizu, Attilio Tono, Emanuele Torti, Chisato Yasuzawa

Treptow
Ateliers e.V.

Christian Krüger, Ioannis Malegiannakis,
Rei Matsushima, Wayne McCauslin, Nänzi, Lorcan O`Byrne, Ornella Orlandini, Lydia Paasche, Matteo Peterlini, Christoph Schieder, Soji Shimizu, Attilio Tono, Emanuele Torti, Chisato Yasuzwa.