A huge relief and a major success for Berlin’s cultural scene: Kulturraum Berlin gGmbH (KRB) has successfully renewed the lease for the Neukölln studio building at Hobrechtstraße 31! The site, which serves as a creative hub for 27 professional visual artists, has thus been secured until at least 30 June 2026. This is a decisive step following months of uncertainty, during which the continued existence of the building – which has been part of Berlin’s Workspace Programme since 1999 – was threatened by an expiring lease.
Having reported on constructive dialogue and initial glimmers of hope as recently as early February, the KRB can now confirm that the ink on the contract is dry. Despite persistently challenging times and a €5.4 million cut to its funding in 2025, the KRB has succeeded not only in reaching an agreement with the owners but also in securing the necessary funding for a further year.
This success sends an important message to Berlin’s cultural landscape: even under difficult circumstances, preserving urgently needed artistic workspaces remains the KRB’s top priority. Securing Hobrechtstraße 31 exemplifies how, through shared commitment and tireless effort, valuable spaces for artistic creation can be preserved despite current challenges.
The contract now signed provides all parties involved – the KRB, the artists and the owners – with clarity on the immediate situation and valuable time. The clear aim and objective remains to use this time to jointly develop a long-term vision for the site and secure the studio building permanently.
Dirk Förster, Managing Director of the KRB:
“We are very relieved that the lease has been signed and that Hobrechtstraße 31 is secured until mid-2026. We would like to thank the dedicated artists and the owners for their excellent cooperation. We now intend to use the time we have gained to work together to develop a long-term vision for this important site.”