Berlin - michael

Arts & Culture Arts & Culture
Tacheles
www.tacheles.de. Oranienburgerstr.
54-56a. U-Bahn: Oranienburgerstr.
Tel: +49 302 826 185.
Originally created as a non-profi t
organisation, a vision that it still
retains to this day, Tacheles is
currently a key centre
for art creation and
exhibition near the
centre of Berlin.
Not to be confused
with the separate
collection of bars,
commonly referred to
as Studio 54, that are
scattered behind and
in the lower section
of the building, it
aims to focus on the
creative processes
behind art and tries
to do away with the
organisational ties
that offi cial museums
hold. Housed in an old
department department store, the the building has a
strong appeal with graffi ti adorning
every visible space, and all sorts of
characters roaming freely within.
As a result of its volatile history and
unique atmosphere it holds a strong
attraction for tourists, especially
backpackers, as well as the artists
from all over the world that head
there to work and live.
The Kunsthaus (art-house) Tacheles
was built at the beginning of the 20th
century as a large enclosed space for
small businesses, before becoming
a department store, and has since
served many purposes including
housing an SS offi ce.
The building was
damaged during the
Second World War
and only occasionally
used throughout the
Cold War. The section
that stands today is
just a small part of
the original building.
In 1990, shortly
after the collapse
of the wall and two
months before the
building was due to
be demolished, an
artists’ initiative
group called Tacheles,
which translates as
plain or honest in Yiddish, occupied
the building. From then on the future
of the building, and the non-profi t
organisation housed within, has been
far from certain. A lease was agreed
with the current owners, with a token
rent of €0.50 paid each month. This
lease has recently expired however,
and with the property owner’s bank
seeking administration rights, it is
more uncertain than ever before as
to the future of this unique cultural
site. Problems are also had with the
various bars, also on site, which all
originally had leases agreed with
the Tacheles organisation. Currently
only one bar continues to pay rent
and this causes a large amount of
tension.
Despite the ongoing legal wrangling
and the internal problems it has,
Tacheles still has plans and high
hopes for the future. These include
the creation of a foundation to
support non-profi t cultural projects;
the formation of a limited company
to outsource economic activities;
the creation of a sculpture park
on the roof and the expansion of
brand marketing to gain revenue for
cultural projects.
Tacheles is key to retaining the
spirit of cooperation and the ‘art for
art’s sake’ attitude brought about
in its formation almost 20 years
ago. Yet whilst this is an admirable
position to take, and arguably the
cornerstone that makes Tacheles
such an attraction today, it is also
an aspect that causes it to struggle
in a modern world dominated
by profi table organisations and
establishments with a heavilyrefi
ned corporate image. Despite
this though, and the uncertain future
ahead, Tacheles is keen to take the
original aims of the organisation into
the future and create an artistic
legacy for generations to come.
Mitte 41 Mitte 42